Jaire Alexander‘s Packers tenure officially came to an end yesterday. Green Bay’s decision to move on came after multiple attempts at working out a trade fell through. 
One of the teams which pursued an Alexander trade was the Bills. Buffalo and Green Bay discussed a swap this offseason, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports. After no agreement was reached, the Bills moved on to other CB options. Given the nature of Alexander’s contract, it is fair to assume finances represented a barrier to a deal being worked out in this case.
Cornerback was seen as a priority for the Bills this spring, one in which Christian Benford was among the many recent draftees who received a long-term extension. Buffalo’s first-round pick was used on Maxwell Hairston, and the Kentucky product will presumably join Benford and Taron Johnson as a starter in 2025. Alexander would have provided Buffalo with a high-profile boundary cover man, but his injuries (10 missed games in each of the past two years) were obviously a source of hesitation on the part of suitors.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes the Packers attempted to trade Alexander in March, something the team openly discussed prior to the start of free agency. After those efforts failed to yield a deal, per Breer, Green Bay’s attempts were repeated during the draft. With no offers deemed sufficient being made at either juncture, the team’s attention shifted back to the possibility of a pay cut arrangement.
Deep into the offseason, it became clear there was not a restructure to be worked out, however. As a result, Alexander now finds himself on the market in June. In the immediate aftermath of his release, it was reported a strong market would likely exist for the Pro Bowler’s services; it appears that is indeed the case.
Six teams immediately checked in once Alexander was released, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports. The number of suitors for the 28-year-old should increase now that parting with draft capital and taking on the final two years of his contract are no longer necessary. Per Schultz, it is unclear if the Bills are among the teams which will make a free agent push. Given their prior interest, though, it would certainly not come as a surprise if that were to be the case.
Alexander was attached to a $21MM-per-year pact prior to his release, but a less lucrative commitment no doubt awaits him this summer. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to choose his next destination as he weighs a number of possibilities.
He’s delusional if he thinks he’s going to come anywhere near that dollar amount.
He needs to go the Bosa route and take a 1yr prove-it deal with incentives. The low risk approach will make a lot of teams interested. Hopefully the Raiders take a flyer on him since they have the cap room and could use all the help they can get in the secondary.
Why does the article say the Bills are in trade talks if he’s already been released?
Should read ‘were engaged’.
Haha.
Can be read as “were engaged” or *currently* engaged.
But the article says “pursued”/ discussed and the Bills moved on.
The headline is confusing. 😀
Go get em Jerry!!!
10-12 Mill One Year Prove it Deal…
Let’s Go!!!
Why not take the cut? Pride? The cut would probably be more than hed make on a prove it deal?
Probably but it’s pretty clear he wanted out of Green Bay. Players restructure their deals all the time to make them more team/cap friendly but not if they don’t want to be there.
Vikings, then he can stick it to the Packers twice.