The Packers tried to trade veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander on multiple occasions before his release earlier today, but his contract proved to be a significant barrier in completing a deal.
The Packers even reached an agreement with an unknown team on trade compensation, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but that team did not want to absorb Alexander’s 2025 salary. He was set to earn a total of $17.5MM this season, per OverTheCap, and refused to take a pay cut to facilitate a deal, as reported by Silverstein and confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Alexander also rejected a revised contract to stay in Green Bay that would have reduced his 2025 salary and made him a free agent after the season, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. That deal would have given Alexander the opportunity to earn back some of the money via incentives, but it also lopped off the final year of his contract that was worth $19.5MM.
The two-time Pro Bowler has been worth that kind of money when healthy, but he has struggled with a variety of injuries throughout his career with a particularly tough spell across the last four years. Since 2021, Alexander has played in just 34 of the Packers’ 68 regular-season contests, including just seven in each of the last two seasons. He underwent season-ending knee surgery
Packers outgoing team president Mark Murphy said (via WBAY’s Dave Schroeder) that Alexander “has been a great player for us,” but acknowledged that his injury history played a major factor in his release.
“Unfortunately, that’s a big part of the game,” added Murphy, who expressed confidence in the Packers’ secondary without Alexander.
“We’ve been used to it,” Murphy said, specifically mentioning former UDFA Keisean Nixon as a cornerback who could step up. Nixon spent the first three years of his career as a reserve with the Raiders, but he signed with Green Bay in 2022 and started 28 games over the last two years amid Alexander’s absences. He also earned first-team All-Pro nods in 2022 and 2023 as the league’s leading kick returner.
As for Alexander, he is expected to have a market for a one-year deal, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. His injury history may limit the base value of a new contract, but he should receive significant upside if he can stay healthy and hit playtime incentives.
I think it had more to do with his ability to stay on the field, because most teams wouldn’t have an issue with a healthy JA at that number.
If that were the case, wouldn’t they have traded for him, and taken on his contract?
I’m sure the Packers were not asking for hardly anything in return. A team probably could have gotten it done by trading a 5th for JA and a 6th or 7th Round pick. Or just simply trading a conditional 6th Round pick that becomes a 5th if JA meets a certain amount of games played…
The whole situation sucks for the Packers. And, frankly, it sucks for Jaire. He won’t make the kind of money he wants to make next year, either. Go to the AFC, Jaire.
For those that know more on this topic, with him being released, what would we get for a compensatory pick?
Zero. That’s it. We get dead cap.
You don’t get comp picks for guys you cut/release. The only players eligible for comp pick consideration are guys who’s contract has expired
Just wondering how this will play out? He rejected a paycut with GB, and a paycut for a trade today. His next contract will be much less guaranteed and have a ton of incentives built in, so will it be worth it? Why not just take a paycut, play ball, and work towards his next contract?
Because he wants to pick the best situation for himself to, hopefully, rebuild his value for another long term deal next season.
Im sure getting out of the frozen hellscape that is green bay factors into it as well
I would rather see the Eagles go after Justin Simmons at safety rather than JA at CB. Simmons has been saying all along that he wants to play for the Eagles and his former DC Vic Fangio. Julian Blackmon is another FA safety out there looking for a job.
Nah. Jones is going to get a shot at starting, they just drafted a safety in the 2nd round, and fangio has already said dejean is going to get snaps at safety.
Simmons is washed, he’s at best a solid depth player at a position they already have solid depth at. Alexander, at best, is an all pro corner that makes them the most talented cb room in football
Cost, as always will dictate mych of it, but the upside of the 2 moves aren’t in the same stratosphere. That being said, don’t see the eagles making the move unless he comes much cheaper than I expect