Indications from earlier this offseason pointed to Jaire Alexander‘s time with the Packers coming to an end in 2025. The high-priced cornerback remains on Green Bay’s roster for now, but a soft deadline has emerged for a resolution.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at Monday’s league meetings he hopes this situation will come to an end before the draft (h/t Matt Schneidman of The Athletic). He noted keeping Alexander in place is a possibility at this point, although the team’s decision to shop him in advance of free agency obviously indicates a willingness to move on. If a trade agreement is to be worked out, finding appropriate value in a return will be a key challenge.
“We invested a lot in Jaire and want to make sure, if he’s not gonna be on our football team helping us win games, that we get something back for that investment,” Gutekunst said (via Schneidman). “So we’ll see where it goes.”
Alexander established himself as one of the league’s top cover men during the early portion of his career. The Louisville product found himself the highest-paid corner in the NFL at the time that he inked his extension in 2022, but things have not gone according to plan since then. Alexander has only played seven games in each of the past two years, and that lack of availability has outweighed performances roughly in line with those of past campaigns.
Green Bay’s list of initial free agent moves included a deal for Nate Hobbs. The former Raider inked a four-year, $48MM deal, and as a result he will be counted on to operate as a key figure in the Packers’ secondary. The Hobbs move could make a parting of ways easier on the Alexander front, especially if the team uses a high draft pick on another corner next month.
The 28-year-old is due a base salary of $16.15MM in 2025 and $18.15MM the following year. Those figures represent understandable causes for concern on the part of potential suitors and help explain the expectation a release – rather than a trade – will take place. Whatever the outcome in Alexander’s case, it may take place in the relatively near future.