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The Packers drafted what they needed most: a cornerback.

But what Green Bay also got by selecting Louisville's Jaire Alexander at No. 18 overall on Thursday night is a skilled defender and kick returner.

"We think he's versatile Youth Marquis Haynes Jersey ," Packers director of scouting Jon-Eric Sullivan said. "He can run 鈥?he's a 4.3 guy. He's got really good twitch, lateral agility. So, we do think he can play inside. He's very instinctive."

In his first draft as Packers general manager, Brian Gutekunst had been eyeing Alexanders since the fall.

"He was one of those targets early on that we liked quite a bit," Gutekunst said. "All of our scouts that went into Louisville this year liked him quite a bit."

Injuries have ravaged the Green Bay cornerback position in recent years. The Packers dealt Damarious Randall to the Browns earlier in the offseason in a trade that brought backup quarterback DeShone Kizer to Green Bay. That left last year's second-round pick, Kevin King, as the Packers' top cornerback following an injury-shortened rookie year.

Veteran Tramon Williams returned as a free agent to the Packers, who also brought back Davon House. But a defense can never have too many cornerbacks in the pass-happy NFL.

The Packers feel Alexander can play in the slot and on the outside in new coordinator Mike Pettine's defense.

"I pretty much can play wherever," Alexander said.

The Packers are hoping Alexander is the playmaker they desperately need after another subpar year on defense. Alexander had a team-leading five interceptions as a sophomore in 2016. He only played in six games last season, starting five Authentic Isaiah Oliver Jersey , after sustaining a knee injury. But the injury didn't scare off the Packers.

"We felt good about the whole situation," Sullivan said. "We feel good about the guy, we feel good about his durability overall. He did miss time this year, but we thought given the process through the spring and watched his workout in Indianapolis, and the guy was back to 100 percent."

Alexander was healthy at the NFL combine and turned some heads, running blazing 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash. At only 5-foot-11, Alexander has to use his speed to his advantage to beat bigger wide receivers.

"I definitely use speed a lot," Alexander said. "Being faster than the receiver is only half the battle, so definitely rely on my speed and technique."

Alexander's speed along with his other exception intangibles were key in the Packers taking the 21-year-old.

"He's very physical, very aggressive Authentic Olivier Rodrigue Jersey ," Gutekunst said. "When you have a corner that lacks great height like that sometimes you start to (think), is he a nickel? Can he play inside? Can he play outside? I think all of our staff, not only our personnel staff but also our coach staff, felt really good about him playing inside and outside. He's a dynamic, explosive athlete."

As a kick returner, Alexander had 20 returns for 210 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore. He'll compete with Trevor Davis for the Packers' starting return position.

Green Bay entered Thursday night with the No. 14 pick, but Gutekunst acquired the Saints' first-round pick (No. 27), a fifth-round pick (No. 147) and the team's first-round selection in 2019. Then the Packers moved up to No. 18 and also received the No. 248 pick in the seventh round and gave Seattle the No. 27 pick, a third-rounder (No. 76) and a sixth-rounder (No. 186).

Gutekunst noted that Alexander "was in consideration" for the Packers to select him at No. 14, but when the Saints called with a trade offer David Dahl Colorado Rockies Jersey , it was too good to pass up.

"We got to 14, we had a number of players that we felt were similar value and that's what one of the decisions to moving back," Gutekunst said.

Green Bay has 11 picks remaining in the final two days of the draft. It will have just one on Friday, No. 45. The Packers' brass will be busy on Saturday: fourth round selections Nos. 101 and 133; fifth round Nos. 138, 147, 172 and 174; sixth round No. 207; and seventh round Nos. 232, 239 and 248.

David Fizdale is coming back to coaching as the latest pick of the New York Knicks to turn around their franchise.

The Knicks agreed to hire Fizdale on Thursday, a person with knowledge of the details said.

The former Memphis Grizzlies coach will replace Jeff Hornacek, who was fired last month after two seasons.

The Knicks then conducted a lengthy search before agreeing Thursday to a deal in principle with Fizdale, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was not officially announced.

ESPN first reported the agreement with Fizdale.

Fizdale led the Grizzlies to the playoffs in his first season before being fired early last season following a clash with star center Marc Gasol.

That did little to diminish the respect of Fizdale Cheap Trenton Cannon Jersey , who had been an assistant to Erik Spoelstra in Miami when the Heat won two NBA championships and developed strong relationships with superstars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

The Knicks will hope he will have the same effect on their young team, which has missed the playoffs the past five seasons and could struggle again next season while All-Star Kristaps Porzingis recovers from a torn knee ligament.

Fizdale went 43-39 and led the Grizzlies to the playoffs in his lone full season in Memphis. He lasted just 19 games into the following season, when Gasol publicly objected to being left on the bench in the fourth quarter of a game.

Fizdale then did some work in TV and was mentioned as a candidate for nearly every job that became available this offseason,

He ends up becoming the 11th Knicks coach since Jeff Van Gundy resigned in the 2001-02 season.

Hornacek went 60-104 and the Knicks fired him at the airport upon returning from Cleveland after their season finale. Team president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry said at the time they wanted someone who could better communicate with today’s NBA players and said they were searching for someone who would mold the team over the next three to five years.

That seemed to be the situation that was developing in Memphis, where he opened up the offense of what had long been a defensive-minded team in his first season. He then endeared himself to the city during a fiery rant after a playoff loss to San Antonio, when he was fined $30,000 for a tirade against the officials during which he said ”Take that for data!” and ”They’re not going to rook us!” – quotes that both ended up on T-shirts.

But it abruptly ended last November when the Grizzlies fell to 7-12 after a loss in which Gasol remained on the bench the entire fourth quarter. Fizdale was fired the next day, though the Grizzlies said it was because of the team’s overall performance, not the specific incident with Gasol.

Fizdale was previously an assistant in Golden State and Atlanta before moving on to Miami.

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