Jaire Alexander could be exactly what the Carolina Panthers need..

As the NFL Draft begins on Thursday, notes have been taken, the dust has settled and teams have begun to identify their needs for the next couple of days. Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Tuesday that secondary was a position they would target, and target early.

With the draft approaching, we will begin to take a look at prospects that have visited the Carolina Panthers throughout the scouting process. Our first prospect of note is Louisville cornerback Jaire Alexander, who came in for a private visit.

Declaring for the Draft as a junior, Alexander had three successful years as a member of the Cardinals. During his time there, he showed that he could be a lockdown cornerback. His best season came in the 2016 campaign. That year, he played in 13 games, recording 39 total tackles and five interceptions. The five interceptions put him tied for second in the conference that year.

In addition to his defensive skills, he showed he could be an asset on punt return. In 2015, he totaled 223 yards which put him at No. 5 in the ACC. 2016 proved to be another strong year for him in that regard as he notched 195 punt return yards, putting him at No. 7 in the ACC in that category.

In 2017, he appeared in six games, recording 19 total tackles, an interception and four pass deflections. Although not as strong as his previous years, he still proved he could make an impact in a conference known for explosive offenses.

What can he bring to the Carolina Panthers? He could give them the shutdown corner they have been missing. As his statistics show, he is a ball hawk and is not afraid to make big plays when needed. He is an athletic playmaker who can bring flair to a secondary.

At 5-foot-11, he is not the tallest corner, and his size is something that could be considered a negative in terms of skillset.

The Carolina Panthers should consider Alexander even if injuries are something to be wary of. Per WalterFootball.com, he is projected to be drafted in ether the first or second round.

The Panthers need an impact player in their secondary, and he fits the bill

With the NFL Draft approaching, we begin a series of prospect profiles. First up is Louisville corner Jaire Alexander, who could be exactly what the Carolina Panthers need.