The Green Bay Packers announced they will be releasing cornerback Jaire Alexander on Monday. Apparently, the team and Alexander’s agent could not work out a restructured contract that was mutually agreeable to both sides. With mandatory OTAs approaching, the Packers would have had to pay Alexander a workout bonus if he attended. Alexander will be a free agent and can sign a new contract with any team. Today we discuss how the release of Jaire Alexander impacts the Packers? We break down the impact on several levels.
How the Release of Jaire Alexander Impacts the Packers: Cap Space
The Packers release of Alexander occurred after June 1st, so the team will save approximately $17 million in cap space as a result of releasing their former star cornerback.
That may give the Packers enough cap space to sign a free agent cornerback if there are any post-June 1st players released. They would also have the cap space to trade for a cornerback, if one is made available. Of course, in any trade, the Packers would also have to give up a player or a draft pick as part of the deal.
It is possible the release of Alexander will give GM Brian Gutekunst the flexibility to bring in another cornerback, but will that player be as good as Alexander?
Chemistry
Another question concerning Alexander’s release is team chemistry. The former first-round pick out of Louisville was a very popular player with his teammates and many expressed the desire to have him remain with the team in 2025.
Quarterback Jordan Love recently told Kay Adams, “He’s definitely a player we need back. He’s a guy we need around. He’s a character. That’s a guy you never know what you’re going to get. With Ja, he’s always a guy that interacts with everybody on the team. He jokes around but he also has that serious side to him as a competitor.”
Safety Xavier McKinney posted offseason workouts he had done with Alexander. After a recent open practice at OTAs, he told reporters, “We would all like him back.” However, McKinney also admitted that it may not happen. “We want him here, but however that situation plays out, that’s how it plays out,” he added.
Alexander was confident, brash, and well-liked in the Green Bay locker room. His absence will be felt, and some teammates will have to pick up the emotional void left by his absence.
How the Release of Jaire Alexandre Impacts the Packers: The Cornerback Position
The biggest question remains the cornerback position. Without Alexander, the Packers have less depth and talent at the position.
Keisean Nixon will be the likely starter at one boundary corner with Nate Hobbs the favorite to start opposite him.
When the team went to a nickel set last week at OTAs, Carrington Valentine played the boundary, and Hobbs moved into the slot. Javon Bullard also saw time in the slot last season and is likely to battle for playing time there again in 2025.
The big question now is depth. There isn’t a lot of experienced depth behind the top four players. The Packers didn’t select a cornerback in the 2025 NFL Draft until they added Micah Robinson in the seventh round.
Again, there is still time for Gutekunst to make an addition here before training camp starts in late July, but right now, depth is definitely a concern. On the positive side, the Packers played without Alexander for 20 of the last 34 regular season games so they are used to lining up without him in the lineup.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley may have to resort to more zone coverages and shell coverages. He may not have one shut down corner to take on the elite receivers the team has to face in the NFC North like Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Elite Players
The loss of Alexander takes away one of the better players on the Packers roster. Winning NFL teams have good players throughout their roster and lack major weaknesses in their lineups. But elite teams, teams that contend for the Super Bowl, have elite players or difference makers sprinkled throughout their roster.
When on the field and healthy, Alexander was a difference maker. Unfortunately, he was not on the field enough in three of the last four seasons.
The Packers are already a good football team, but they may not have enough elite players or difference makers to consistently beat the best teams in the league. The loss of Alexander eliminates one potential elite player on the roster. Now it may be up to Gutekunst see if he can add another.
Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
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