Plot Twist: What if Jaire Alexander Stays?
Breaking down a possible scenario where the All-Pro cornerback remains in Green Bay.
Since being drafted by the Packers in 2018, Jaire Alexander has had a plethora of accomplishments including making the all-rookie team, Pro Bowl twice and second team All-Pro twice (2020, 2022). The only other Packer cornerbacks in the team’s history to win All Pro Honors multiple times is Charles Woodson (four) and Herb Adderley (seven). Since entering the league, Alexander is tied for number one in NFL postseason interceptions with three in seven games.
All of these accomplishments as well as being a vocal leader in the locker room led to Green Bay making Alexander the highest paid cornerback in NFL history in 2022. To the dismay and frustration of Packer fans and the team’s front office, the All-Pro corner’s presence has been heavily missed in now back-to-back seasons, missing 21 out of 34 regular season games. Overall, he has missed more than half of the games in three of the last four seasons. The best ability is availability.
What are the odds he stays in Green Bay?
Based on the multiple reports of rift and friction as well as Alexander’s short “nothing good to say” exit interview after the playoff loss to the Eagles, it is a safe bet that he will not be returning in the green and yellow uniforms in the 2025 season. Alexander’s contract extension, which was 4 years for $84 million including $30 million guaranteed, has 2 years remaining. If Brian Gutekust was to proceed in releasing his first ever draft pick as the Packers’ GM, it would save the team $6.8 million in salary cap space.
Although injuries have consistently plagued the All-Pro, it does not seem logical to release a player with the caliber of greatness like Alexander. Charles Woodson, another former All-Pro cornerback who was riddled with injuries in his young career on the Raiders, was signed by the Packers in 2006 as the team was willing to take a gamble on him and how did that pay off? Pretty damn good. The Raiders did not even offer him a contract. History tends to repeat itself in this league all the time.
If the Packers were to release Alexander just to save $6.8 million and not get anything in return, that does not seem like an overall win for the franchise. One could argue that the team would be doing the smart thing by releasing him as the contract has been a waste of money based on Alexander’s availability, but there is a reason why he was once upon a time made the highest paid cornerback in NFL history. There is weight to that decision. The contract was not an act of delusion from the front office or malpractice. One can not deny the impact Alexander has when he plays and how the Packers’ defense elevates to a whole other level of tenacity and grit.
How is the trade market looking?
With the first offseason domino falling of Deebo Samuel being traded to the Commanders for a fifth-round pick, what does that mean for Alexander’s value? Before this trade occurred there had been rumors of valuing the cornerback in that same ballpark of a fifth or sixth-round pick. Outrageous. Samuel has had his own injury history and has less Pro-Bowl and All-Pro appearances than Alexander (one, 2021). If that is the bar that has been set, the Packers should be able to leverage more than a fifth-round pick if a trade scenario comes to fruition. Samuel and the 49ers front office were both loudly vocal about an inevitable break up, so this trade felt like it had a “just get rid of him” sort of attitude with it.
Even though the spirits grew sour of Alexander and the Packers’ front office as the season concluded, neither side has come out and expressed that the only answer is for everyone to move on. With how Green Bay’s defense thrived in year one under DC Jeff Hafley, it is fun to imagine how much better this team can be if Alexander is out there. Maybe the imagination is nothing but false hope, but if the Packers decide to trade one of their most important defensive assets, they better get a value in return that makes it worth it. Time heals everything, and maybe some offseason space with Alexander’s health progress could lead to a mentality reset and both sides making amends.
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Mitchell Adams is a passionate lifelong Packer fan bringing a unique West Coast perspective, and also produces multiple podcast platforms, is a published author, and a proud Packers shareholder. Follow him on X at @mitchadams209.
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Comments (38)
crayzpackfan
March 04, 2025 at 03:31 pm
I hope he is either traded, cut, or staying and it get's announced tomorrow morning. This JA Spam isn't journalism. It's not even interesting at this point. Sorry.
ricky
March 04, 2025 at 03:36 pm
All too often we overvalue players. Could Alexander turn things around and become a healthy contributor to the team? Yes. Is it likely? That is where the team doctors and coaches need to evaluate what is likely to happen. But the short answer based on recent history seems to be "No".
As far as getting proper compensation, the question becomes: why would another team trade premium draft picks for a player who could well be in rehab more than on the field? Would anyone be happy if the Packers traded prime picks for an injury prone player that is "a game changer when healthy"?
Gman1976
March 04, 2025 at 05:20 pm
I suspect if JA gets on the field, he will soon be off of it due to another injury. Unfortunately, his style of play takes a tough toll on his body. He was an aggressive tackle. As he gets older, he might be tempted to make business decisions to stay on the field. It would be wise to trade him if possible.
stockholder
March 04, 2025 at 03:38 pm
Gute and Alexander need to sit down with the lawyers.
Priority 1. Reassessing the marriage needs.
He's from Philly so he knows the story of Rocky.
"If I can change and you can change, everybody can change"
It's up to him to get back up.
Alberta_Packer
March 04, 2025 at 05:55 pm
However, as much as Rocky was inspirational - the character and the story was pure fiction. Alexander and the Packers are real. Yet the possibility of a "Rocky" ending still exists. Except the opposite of the movie ending.
WD
March 04, 2025 at 04:28 pm
So, we certainly can listen for trade offers and evaluate their best offer. Last I heard we were looking for CB help. We obviously don't have to look far, If he is healthy and wants to play keep him. He is a great player at a position we desperately need. It is a no brainer.
Leatherhead
March 04, 2025 at 04:44 pm
Well, I kind of lost my mind for a moment when I read about it being illogical to release a player the caliber of his greatness.
Look, I remember Charles Woodson as a collegian, doing the Heisman pose. I remember how astute TT was in getting him here in FA. I watched as he helped lift a defense, and a team, into the Super Bowl. I watched him win Defensive Player of the Year. I watched him get inducted into Canton.
Jaire Alexander is no Charles Woodson. The author should castigate himself for trying to make that comparison.
Too Much Drama. Make the trade, whatever it is, use the $7M for something useful.
LLCHESTY
March 04, 2025 at 05:42 pm
No article on Davante Adams getting cut? What's going on here?
13TimeChamps
March 04, 2025 at 07:08 pm
Maybe because he's not a Packer...and this is a Packers site. And the odds of him returning are basically non-existent.
13TimeChamps
March 04, 2025 at 07:16 pm
Or it was satire. If so, my bad.
LLCHESTY
March 04, 2025 at 08:58 pm
It's a hell of a lot more likely than non existent. He has recently stated he'd be open to returning and they need somebody to lead that room. Much rather see them pay Davante than trade for Metcalf or some other lesser WR.
Coldworld
March 05, 2025 at 09:50 am
He may want the West Coast or he may still be sucked in by Rodgers. He was happy enough to jump ship to the Jets to be with him. I don’t know how realistic the prospect of a return is, but I think it’s significantly less than many pundits seem to be claiming .
Packers0808
March 04, 2025 at 05:51 pm
Alexander WILL BE a Packer next season.
dobber
March 05, 2025 at 09:39 am
I think he will be a Packer until they replace him.
Leatherhead
March 05, 2025 at 09:40 am
The Packers are finished with him. He'll be traded or cut.
Starrbrite
March 04, 2025 at 06:24 pm
I’m not at all opposed to JA remaining with the Packers. I hope he stays. But, as one y’all stated, if “that ship has sailed,” let’s trade him; for an edge, WR, or CB.
Go Packers!!!
joejetson
March 04, 2025 at 07:41 pm
I would assume the Front Office is talking to their medical staff as much as they're talking to Jaire.
Are his medical issues chronic or just unfortunate one-off injuries?
His early career injury history didn't resemble the last couple of years, so what happened?
They need to fully understand his potential to remain healthy in order to make a correct decision on his future.
The Raiders gave up on Charles Woodson way too early. It must have been hard for them to watch him excel after they got nothing for him when he came to GB.
I don't want to see that happen to the Packers with Alexander.
LeotisHarris
March 04, 2025 at 09:30 pm
Another embarrassing effort, Mitchell. Grammarly is FREE!
One of the many errors:
"The only other Packer cornerbacks in the team’s history to win All Pro Honors multiple times is Charles Woodson (four) and Herb Adderley (seven)."
As George W Bush asked in 2000, "Rarely is the question asked: is our children learning?"
Starrbrite
March 04, 2025 at 09:37 pm
Cracked me up—again!!
LLCHESTY
March 05, 2025 at 06:40 am
The sooner we return to a "some children will be left behind" policy the better off this country will be. Like a wise man once said the world needs ditch diggers too.
dobber
March 05, 2025 at 09:42 am
I'm feeling lazy today, so. << insert your own ironic, grammatically incorrect statement here >>
mvprzy
March 04, 2025 at 09:31 pm
I like both sides make amends endings.
LLCHESTY
March 05, 2025 at 06:41 am
Sounds good, bring Davante home!
Leatherhead
March 05, 2025 at 09:54 am
He couldn't deliver in the playoffs when he was in his prime, and when we had Rodgers, why should we believe he could now?
We made him an offer. He chose to go elsewhere. Fine. Turn the page.
fthisJack
March 05, 2025 at 07:19 am
I hope they mend the fences and he stays. Hopefully he will be 100% by training camp. Nobody that you get in FA or the draft can cover like Jaire. If he has a good year, you lose nothing and elevate his trade value or keep him.
dobber
March 05, 2025 at 09:05 am
If they keep him, he's done in GB after 2025. Too much $$ in 2026 and too many years for a meaningful extension.
Coldworld
March 05, 2025 at 09:40 am
I’m not sure that is true, if both parties are willing. A deal could be done if both sides wish it.
This is not a statement built on hope to keep him. Unlike many here I do not believe I know what is going on sufficiently to know if this is player hubris, poor man management, medical disagreement or mixture of these and possibly other factors.
I do know that Alexander was playing well over the first six games and I do acknowledge he’s not been healthy enough during his second contract. I also know that it was the Packers who pulled him from training at one point later in the season because his movement didn’t seem right on film of practice. That’s typically something one looks for with people coming back from a PCL injury.
How this works out may well become clear soon, but the whys of it may take much longer, if they ever really come out in public. Right now I suspect what is happening is an attempt to establish whether both sides can get close to a mutually accepted assessment of prospects for Adams moving forward. That dance is yet to be over I suspect.
Leatherhead
March 05, 2025 at 10:08 am
"""if both parties are willing"""
Yeah. Exactly. And it should be abundantly clear that the Packers want to go in another direction, turn the page, explore other options, etc. They're shopping him.
The Packers, IMO, have made their decision, and it involves somebody else playing corner back and saving about enough money to sign a veteran offensive lineman, who would be a starter after the first injury.. The Team has reached the playoffs two years in a row without much help from him...he NOT a premium asset on this defense. It's been years since he has been. He's older.
I'm 100% confident the Packers are moving on, even if it means cutting him post June 1 and getting nothing in trade. That's the worst case scenario....other than paying another $17M to sit on the bench again this year.
Nixon and Valentine have been the defacto starters, they're both coming back. They have King from last year's draft. They could choose to resign Rochelle or Ballantine. Or sign a FA, or draft a CB.
In their minds, they've already replaced Alexander. The only question now is is how much can Gutekunst get for him?
Bitternotsour
March 05, 2025 at 10:17 am
how exactly is it "abundantly clear". can you point me to that statement by the packers?
Leatherhead
March 05, 2025 at 10:31 am
Okay, BNS. It's abundantly clear, to me.
Let's start with Zack Kruse's article yesterday, where NFL executives have said the Packers are trying to trade Alexander.
""It's clear the Packers and Alexander have decided to part ways,"
So that's from them,not from me; I just agree with it. The article goes on to say that we probably can't trade him and will have to release him.
We could go back a little further ...in the last month, Sporting News, NFL.com, CBSsports and many others all have written articles essentially saying the same thing.
They were absolutely shopping him at the combine. They've moved on. They would rather save $7M than risk $17M on Alexander. I don't blame them.
Bitternotsour
March 05, 2025 at 10:48 am
until there's a name associated with "NFL executives" my assumption will always be that they are making it up. Believe it or not, sports reporters regularly make shit up.
LeotisHarris
March 05, 2025 at 02:21 pm
"That's right, BNS. I just finished speaking with Robert Kraft. Kraft said every NFL team is all-in to compete for the Super Bowl, and if it takes sitting tight or making that blockbuster trade to do it, well, that's why they get up in the morning." - Charissa Thompson (probably)
Bitternotsour
March 05, 2025 at 05:23 pm
My broker is EF Hutton, and EF Hutton says...
Bitternotsour
March 05, 2025 at 10:11 am
Adams, Alexander whatever. Player hubris, poor man management, medical disagreement or a mixture. You leave out the critical issue of money. Money changes everything. It's one of the reasons a segment of fans hate Alexander.
Leatherhead
March 05, 2025 at 10:22 am
""Money changes everything"?
Get a chisel and a stone.
Yes, it's a critical issue. I hope I don't come across as an Alexander hater, but I know we only carry 4 CBs on gameday, and I'm unwilling to take a $17M bet that he'll be one of them most of the time. I think the percentage play here is to try to get something in trade and save the $7M. Use FA to get a veteran cornerback with a history of availabilty, and use the draft.
All along, I've thought that if Rasul Douglas was worth a late 3rd, Alexander had to be worth something similar, even with that large contract.
Bitternotsour
March 05, 2025 at 10:54 am
Rasul Douglas is a 3rd cornerback, who came off of a practice squad. Jaire Alexander is three classes above that, unless his injuries preclude healing.
You are correct that the Packers are running serious actuarial science and (for me) that is the only factor in the next chapter. Your math assumptions are far different than mine.
pantz_bURp
March 05, 2025 at 07:37 pm
The only thing I will miss if #23 is gone is his Dreamy Eyes.
We got rid of Ol' Eye Roller...time to get rid of JA.
I have seen urinal cakes work harder and be available even when they felt pissed on.
Gutes nephew,
Pantz
*he was like T-Buck without the boxing gloves. I loved his Griddy Dance celebration in close proximity to #18 of the Vikes. Thank you #23, I most certainly wish you well whereever you go. I ain't afraid if it is to an NFC or even North division team.
We need to draft players that laugh at the available underground parking. They want to park outside and are proud of their snot rods which dangle like mucus-filled wind socks.
LeotisHarris
March 05, 2025 at 08:46 pm
Nah, man, you're confusing Ahmad Carroll with T-Buck, aka the next Jim Thorpe. The boxing gloves were Sugar Bear Sherman's idea.