Since the Green Bay Packers cleaned out their locker rooms a few days after their playoff loss to the Eagles, there has been speculation regarding the future of cornerback Jaire Alexander. Based on comments Alexander made and comments by GM Brian Gutekunst, many people believe the team could move on from the cornerback this offseason. Gutekunst spoke again Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine but that only fueled more speculation. The Packers clearly have a tough decision to make on Jaire Alexander this offseason. That decision will have a big impact on the future direction of the team.
The Packers Have a Tough Decision to Make on Jaire Alexander: His Career Thus Far
The Packers selected Alexander in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. In fact, he was the very first player Gutekunst took in the draft during his tenure as GM of the Packers.
The Louisville alum became a starter as a rookie. His speed and coverage ability quickly made him a top cover corner. Alexander earned Pro Bowl honors twice in his seven years with the Packers. He had a career-high five interceptions in 2022.
Unfortunately, the last two seasons have been difficult for Alexander. He played only 14 out of a possible 34 regular season games in 2023 and 2024, appearing in seven games each season.
Last year, Alexander suffered a knee injury on the final defensive play of the Packers win over the Jaguars. He only played 10 snaps the rest of the season despite practicing frequently. Swelling in his knee prevented him from getting back on the field.
When he was able to play last season, Alexander remained an excellent cover corner. Opposing quarterbacks completed just 56.7 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Alexander and had a quarterback rating of just 86.9.
A Controversial Exit
After the Packers playoff loss to the Eagles, speculation immediately grew that Alexander would not be back in Green Bay in 2025. The biggest reason was the way the star cornerback addressed the media when the team was cleaning out their lockers.
Alexander refused to speak to the media officially. He said he didn’t even know if he was going to be here next year. Then he added that he didn’t have anything good to say, so he wasn’t going to talk.
Clearly, there was tension between the team and the player. Alexander seemed unhappy with the way the team handled his injury. Meanwhile, the team was frustrated because Alexander was unable or unwilling to play through his injuries.
If Alexander remains on the Packers roster in 2025, he will carry a cap hit of $24.9 million. The team could save $6.84 million against the cap in 2025 if they release Alexander now. If they designate Alexander as an after June 1st cut, they will save $17.08 million in 2025, but the rest of the dead cap hit would carry over to 2026.
The Packers Have a Tough Decision to Make on Jaire Alexander: The Latest from Gutekunst
At his press conference Tuesday at the Scouting Combine, Gutekunst remained noncommittal regarding Alexander’s future with the team.
“We’ll see,” he told reporters when asked if Alexander will return. “We’re working through that. He certainly could be. But we’ll work through that as we go. We’ve got to get him out there more. Obviously, we’ve talked about there’s been a lot of frustration on his part. He wants to be out there badly, and not being able to be out there at his best has frustrated him and that has frustrated our football team, too, because we’re better with him.”
The Packers are a better team with Alexander on the field. Nobody else on the roster comes close to being a shutdown corner. Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine are good players, but they are not in Alexander’s league when he’s healthy.
However, the cliché is that the most important ability in the NFL is availability, and Alexander just hasn’t been available enough lately. In three of the last four seasons, he has played seven games or less. The team and the player also don’t seem to be on the same page.
The Packers have a difficult decision to make in the coming weeks. They can hold on to Alexander and hope he can stay healthy next season. They can also try to restructure or renegotiate his contract although the player may be reluctant to go along with that. Or they can release or try to trade their star cornerback. The decision will have a ripple effect on the draft, free agency, and the team going forward.
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