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Jaire Alexander’s Contract Impeded Packers’ Trade Attempts

June 9th, 2025 at 7:36pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

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.

Ravens Gave Rashod Bateman Permission To Seek Trade; Packers, Patriots Showed Interest

June 7th, 2025 at 10:19pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

When the Cowboys traded for George Pickens in May, it was revealed that they also looked into a deal for Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman.

Apparently, Dallas wasn’t Bateman’s only suitor this offseason; according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, he drew interest from multiple teams before agreeing to terms earlier this week to stay in Baltimore through the 2029 season.

After a breakout 2024 with career-highs in yards (756) and touchdowns (nine) that both ranked second on the Ravens, Bateman wanted a raise on the inexpensive extension he signed last offseason. With two years and $10.25MM remaining on that deal, the Ravens had all the leverage and refused to meet Bateman’s initial asking price. But, as they have done in the past, the team allowed Bateman explore the trade market to assess his value.

In addition to the Cowboys, the Packers and the Patriots expressed interest, which likely helped to clarify Bateman’s market and bring the Ravens back to the negotiating table. Rather than pursue a trade, they opted to pay Bateman themselves, adding three years and $36.75MM to his current contract for an average of $9.5MM over the next five years.

Green Bay’s interest is certainly notable given the number of affordable regulars on its roster at the receiver position. The Packers later turned to the draft to address the position, using first- and third-round picks to load up. Aggressively searching for wideout help over the past two offseasons, the Patriots ended up with Stefon Diggs this year. Diggs, however, will turn 32 before season’s end. Bateman, 26 in November, would have provided a much younger weapon on the rise. Despite Bateman’s inconsistency — to the point his belated emergence brought a No. 2 wideout role — the former first-rounder clearly still has admirers around the league. The Cowboys later turned to Pickens, who has outproduced Bateman to this point in their respective careers.

At barely $12MM per year, it’s easy to see why the Ravens preferred to keep Bateman rather than move him for draft capital. Baltimore has struggled to draft and develop wide receivers in the Lamar Jackson era – something Bateman alluded to during a Thursday press conference – so it wouldn’t make sense to move on after finally finding some success at the position.

Bateman’s willingness to ask for a raise just one year into a new contract should signal to the Ravens that this situation could repeat itself in future offseasons if his production continues to trend upwards. However, he is now under contract for the next five seasons, which will make it hard to get back to the negotiating table anytime soon.

Kenny Clark Underwent Offseason Foot Surgery

June 6th, 2025 at 9:40am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark is only participating in individual drills during OTAs as he recovers from surgery, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

Clark said he went under the knife in January to correct issues with his right toe, specifically a bunion and bone spurs that hampered him throughout the season. The 29-year-old’s foot got caught on the turf at Arena Corinthians in Brazil, where the Packers opened the regular season. He still started every game, but he was not the same disruptive force that earned two Pro Bowl nods in the preceding three seasons.

After Week 1, Clark blasted the field conditions in Brazil, per Demovsky, complaining about “holes in the ground” and calling it a “tough surface to play on.” He held back when asked about the same topic on Tuesday after receiving backlash for his September comments.

“I ain’t going to answer that question,” Clark said. “I got all the Brazilians on me.”

Despite dealing with a toe injury all year, Clark led the Packers defensive line in snaps, though his 63% snap share was his lowest since his rookie year. So was his production; his 37 total tackles and one sack were career-lows outside of his 2016 rookie year.

Clark admitted that the injury hindered him last season – “you’re taking every step and your toe is busted,” he said (via USA Today’s Ryan Wood) – but expressed optimism about a return to form in 2025.

2025 NFL Cap Space, By Team

June 4th, 2025 at 8:57am CST by Sam Robinson

This week started with a point on the NFL calendar that has been important for decades. Although teams have not needed to wait until June to make their most expensive cuts in many years, they do not see the funds from post-June 1 designations until that point.

With June 1 coming and going, a fourth of the league has seen the savings from post-June 1 releases arrive. That has affected the NFL’s cap-space hierarchy. Here is how every team stands (via OverTheCap) following June 2 changes:

  1. New England Patriots: $67.34MM
  2. San Francisco 49ers: $53.49MM
  3. Detroit Lions: $40.12MM
  4. New York Jets: $39.8MM
  5. Las Vegas Raiders: $36.16MM
  6. Arizona Cardinals: $32.11MM
  7. Dallas Cowboys: $32.11MM
  8. Pittsburgh Steelers: $31.88MM
  9. Seattle Seahawks: $31.21MM
  10. Tennessee Titans: $30.16MM
  11. Green Bay Packers: $28.94MM
  12. Cincinnati Bengals: $27.08MM
  13. Los Angeles Chargers: $26.83MM
  14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $26.63MM
  15. Jacksonville Jaguars: $26.54MM
  16. Philadelphia Eagles: $25.79MM
  17. New Orleans Saints: $22.62MM
  18. Washington Commanders: $21.13MM
  19. Indianapolis Colts: $20.09MM
  20. Los Angeles Rams: $19.44MM
  21. Baltimore Ravens: $18.95MM
  22. Carolina Panthers: $18.69MM
  23. Minnesota Vikings: $18.49MM
  24. Cleveland Browns: $18.2MM
  25. Houston Texans: $16.3MM
  26. Denver Broncos: $16.23MM
  27. Chicago Bears: $14.76MM
  28. Miami Dolphins: $13.81MM
  29. Kansas City Chiefs: $10.75MM
  30. Atlanta Falcons: $5.02MM
  31. New York Giants: $3.82MM
  32. Buffalo Bills: $1.69MM

The Jets saw their situation change the most from post-June 1 designations, as $13.5MM became available to the team after its Aaron Rodgers and C.J. Mosley cuts. Teams have up to two post-June 1 designations at their disposals. Five clubs — the Jets, Browns, Ravens, Eagles and 49ers — used both slots. Only three other teams made a post-June 1 cut before that seminal date. The eight that made these moves will have dead money split between 2025 and 2026.

Baltimore used the cost-defraying option to release Marcus Williams and Justin Tucker, while Cleveland — in Year 4 of the regrettable Deshaun Watson partnership — used it to move on from Juan Thornhill and Dalvin Tomlinson. As the Eagles’ option bonus-heavy payroll included two hefty bonus numbers for Darius Slay and James Bradberry, the reigning Super Bowl champions released both 30-something cornerbacks. Together, Slay and Bradberry will count more than $20MM on Philadelphia’s 2026 cap sheet. As for this year, though, the Browns, Eagles, Ravens and 49ers respectively saved $9.85MM, $9.4MM, $6.3MM, $6.4MM and $5.6MM, according to Spotrac.

The Jaguars made a mid-offseason decision to release Gabe Davis, doing so not long after trading up to draft Travis Hunter — with the plan to primarily play him at wide receiver — at No. 2 overall. Off-field issues, coupled with a down 2024 season, made Tucker expendable — after the Ravens drafted Tyler Loop in Round 6. The Vikings moved off Garrett Bradbury‘s contract and will replace him with free agency addition Ryan Kelly, while Mason lasted two seasons paired with C.J. Stroud‘s rookie deal. The 49ers made it known early they were moving on from Javon Hargrave, while 2024 trade addition Maliek Collins also exited the team’s D-tackle room.

Derek Carr‘s retirement being processed Tuesday also changed the Saints’ funding. The team will spread the dead money ($50.13MM) across two years. Even with the number being reduced this year, the Saints will be hit with the second-highest single-player dead money hit (behind only the Broncos’ Russell Wilson separation) in NFL history as a result of the Carr exit. The Saints will only be responsible for $19.21MM of that total in 2025. As they did with Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox‘s retirements last year, the Eagles will also process Brandon Graham‘s hit this way.

Eight of this year’s post-June 1 releases remain in free agency. The Patriots added Bradbury to replace the now-retired David Andrews, while the Vikings scooped up Hargrave. As the Steelers await Rodgers’ decision, they added two other post-June 1 releases in Slay and Thornhill. Tomlinson joined the Cardinals not long after his Browns release.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/2/25

June 2nd, 2025 at 8:08pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves, including a handful of recent retirements that were made official:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

Philadelphia Eagles

Assessing Packers’ CB Options Absent Jaire Alexander

June 1st, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

As longtime starting cornerback Jaire Alexander‘s future with the team remains in question, the Packers have had to put together a depth chart under the assumption that he won’t be on it. With the team having to determine who starts at the outside spots, the candidates to fill the slot come into question, as well. The clear candidates for that nickel role are second-year safety Javon Bullard and free agent addition Nate Hobbs.

Bullard, a safety drafted in the second round out of Georgia last year, was relegated to a role in the slot after Evan Williams, drafted two rounds after him, was granted the starting safety job next to Xavier McKinney. The second-round rookie led the team in snaps as the nickelback as a result, just barely outpacing veteran Keisean Nixon. Nixon, though, is not a candidate for the inside assignment, after he led the team in snaps on the outside. He is likely expected to man one of the two starting spots on the outside once again in 2025.

Hobbs spent three years of his rookie contract, including the most recent two seasons, as the Raiders primary option in the slot. His sophomore campaign, though, saw him primarily play as an outside corner, starting all 11 games that he played in that year. According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, this experience on the outside could mean that Hobbs will be asked to start across from Nixon, in the presumed absence of Alexander.

Carrington Valentine is another option to start on the outside. He’s opened both of his two seasons in the NFL coming off the bench but has found himself in eventual starting positions in both years, as well, starting 19 games over that span. Schneidman predicts that Valentine will be coming off the bench to start the season for the third time in a row, serving as the third option at outside cornerback behind Nixon and Hobbs.

While the potential absence of Alexander certainly poses a challenge, thinning the depth of the team’s secondary, the Packers certainly have options they can employ. Whether it’s as Schneidman predicts with Nixon and Hobbs manning the outside and Bullard in the slot or Nixon and Valentine starting on the outside with Hobbs continuing his nickel role, Green Bay should have the ability to field a starting unit sans Alexander.

Packers Discussed Davante Adams Reunion

May 31st, 2025 at 1:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

According to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, the team explored a reunion with All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams when he became a free agent earlier this offseason.

“I think any time you have a player of that caliber, there’s definitely conversations that go into it,” LaFleur told Kay Adams last week. “Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.”

Adams spent the first eight years of his career in Green Bay but refused to play under a franchise tag in 2022 and requested a trade to the Raiders. Since his departure, the Packers have focused on drafting and developing young receivers rather than signing expensive veterans. They selected Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson in 2022 and Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks in 2023; all four have emerged as reliable targets, though none have matched Adams’ production.

That led to rumors this offseason that the Packers were looking to add a veteran target to round out their room. They never made an offer for D.K. Metcalf, but Adams was apparently on their radar. Instead, they doubled down on their recent youthful strategy, drafting their first wide receiver in the first round since 2002, before that rookie from Texas, Matthew Golden, was even born.

Moving forward with the bodies they have in the building, though, requires them to start looking into new contracts for the players who have been leading the way the past few years. We saw that a week ago, when it was reported that Reed’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, met with Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, to “clarify (Reed)’s status” with the team. At the time, head coach Matt LaFleur was shocked to receive a question about Reed, pointing out how well the young receiver has done with taking Golden under his wing. LaFleur clarified earlier this week that he hadn’t been a part of the conversation between Rosenhaus and Gutekunst, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, and doubled down on Reed continuing to be an excellent leader.

Reed is also reportedly able to lead by example as “he’s good to go now,” despite not undergoing surgery this offseason. His season ended in Philadelphia with a dislocated shoulder and a partially torn labrum. Seemingly, surgery was not necessary for the injuries to heal as Reed claims it took “about four or five months” to remedy without a procedure, according to Ryan Wood of USA Today.

Another receiver attempting to come from injury is Watson, who suffered “a torn ACL and additional damage” in the final week of the regular season. The non-contact injury was initially expected to force some missed time in his 2025 campaign, but a timeline had not been generated in those earlier reports. While still unable to provide a timeline, per Demovsky, LaFleur remains optimistic, claiming that the 25-year-old is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation and recovery.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/29/25

May 29th, 2025 at 7:25pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Green Bay Packers

Seattle Seahawks

The Packers added a wideout to their squad today, as the team signed UDFA Sam Brown Jr. The receiver bounced around during his collegiate career, with his best showing coming during his time in Houston. Between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Brown hauled in 103 catches for 1,286 yards and seven touchdowns. He transferred to Miami (FL) for the 2024 campaign and proceeded to catch 36 passes for 509 yards and a pair of scores.

Packers Offer Restructured Deal To CB Jaire Alexander

May 27th, 2025 at 10:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

Efforts to keep Jaire Alexander in Green Bay continue. The Packers have submitted an offer on a restructured pact to the Pro Bowl corner, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports (subscription required).

Earlier this offseason, signs pointed to a parting of ways between team and player in this case. A trade was discussed in advance of free agency and the draft, but no agreement was reached with an interested team. Uncertainty continues to surround this situation, with the Packers interested in retaining Alexander but only at a reduced rate. Earlier this month, it was reported he would remain away from the team until a resolution – in whatever form that took – emerged.

That stance would only open the door to fines if it continued into mandatory minicamp in June. Per Schneidman, Alexander does plan to attend in advance of minicamp even if his future is still unclear at this point. With no arrangement coming about in the wake of the restructure offer, all options remain on the table at least for now. If the mutual interest in continuing this relationship cannot lead to a financial agreement, a trade or release will again come into play. The 28-year-old’s preference would be the latter move, as it would allow him to join his next team via free agency.

When healthy, Alexander has remained one of the league’s top corners during his career. The former first-rounder was limited to only four games in 2021, however, and during each of the past two campaigns he has made seven regular season appearances. That lack of availability makes his scheduled cap hits of $24.64MM in 2025 and $27.02MM in ’26 cumbersome for the Packers. A restructure would no doubt consist of reduced salaries aimed at lowering Alexander’s cap charges while also providing him with a new round of guarantees (since none of his remaining base compensation is locked in).

Releasing or trading Alexander after June 1 would be beneficial from Green Bay’s perspective in terms of its financial impacts, and the chance of that taking place will of course remain until this situation becomes clear. As today’s update illustrates, though, the Packers still intend to keep him in the fold for at least one more year.

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