Jaire Alexander

Dolphins, Rams Not Showing Jaire Alexander Interest; Latest On CB’s Free Agency

Several teams have reached out to Jaire Alexander‘s camp since he became a free agent; the Bills negotiated with the Packers on a potential trade. But the former Pro Bowler remains unattached. A one-year deal should be considered likely.

Not high on a Packers pay-cut offer, Alexander elected to try his luck in what amounts to an audition season. That should be considered Alexander’s most likely play, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who predicts a one-year contract that will — should the veteran cornerback shake his injury issues — open the door to a bigger payday as a 2026 free agent.

[RELATED: Dolphins Excuse Jalen Ramsey From Minicamp]

While Schefter does not envision Alexander collecting as much as he would have made on a reduced Packers deal, an opportunity should come soon. Teams are understandably leery of Alexander’s injury past; the former first-round pick has missed 20 games over the past two years and 33 over the past four. Expecting much on a one-year accord is probably unrealistic for the seven-year veteran, but a starting opportunity to serve as a potential platform to a 2026 free agency bid should certainly be expected.

The Dolphins have a rather notable need at corner, as they are prepared for a Jalen Ramsey separation, but the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson indicates they did not touch base with the Packers on Alexander. Miami is also not believed to have contacted Alexander since his release. While the Dolphins have been connected to cornersRasul Douglas, Asante Samuel Jr, James Bradberry — due to Ramsey’s eventual exit gutting them at that spot, they may not be ready to bet on another high-maintenance cover man. Their Ramsey trade did not work out, and it will lead to sizable dead money if/once he is traded. Alexander has been less dependable than Ramsey, though the seven-year Packer is the new top corner available as a free agent.

The Rams continue to come up as a Ramsey destination, but Sean McVay sounded considerably more hesitant on Alexander. Los Angeles has not made an outside CB addition this offseason, passing on additions in the draft and the UDFA ranks. Two 30-something CBs (Darious Williams, Ahkello Witherspoon) are already on the Rams’ roster, but it sure sounds like they are comfortable reacquiring Ramsey, who will play an age-31 season in 2025. Alexander turned 28 in February.

There are so many layers to the Jalen conversation,” McVay said. “Obviously, with Jaire, a lot of respect for him as a player, haven’t talked about those types of things. This will really represent our last OTA day, so we’ve kind of just been focused on our group. Les [Snead] and I have had some dialogue and discussions as it relates to the Jalen thing, but there’s really no news to report on. And with Jaire, nothing but respect for the player but I don’t know if that’s a direction that we would go.”

Ex-McVay staffer Ejiro Evero is running a third Panthers defense, and while The Athletic’s Joe Person notes Carolina will do due diligence on Alexander, nothing appears imminent there. The Panthers extended Jaycee Horn and re-signed Michael Jackson this offseason.

The team did not draft a corner, but Jackson — a 2024 trade pickup who started 17 games (albeit for the league’s 32nd-ranked defense) last season — signed a two-year, $10.5MM deal to stay alongside Horn. Alexander is a Charlotte native who would be expected to usurp Jackson were the Panthers to pursue him.

Bills Engaged In Jaire Alexander Trade Talks; CB Drawing Immediate Interest

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.

Packers Release CB Jaire Alexander

JUNE 10: The Packers had the option of splitting the dead money charge from the Alexander release across the next two years. Instead, Schneidman reports the team will take that hit in full in 2025. As a result, Alexander will account for $17.04MM this year before coming off the books entirely in 2026.

JUNE 9: Jaire Alexander‘s time in Green Bay has come to an end. After talks regarding both a trade and a restructure took place this offseason, the Pro Bowl corner will hit free agency. Alexander is being released today, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The move is now official.

The team spoke with Alexander’s camp yesterday, Dianna Russini and Matt Schneidman of The Athletic add. It was during that meeting that the 28-year-old learned he would be let go. Instead of continuing to pursue a trade or a pact keeping Alexander in Green Bay at a reduced rate, team and player will now go their separate ways. Despite the financial impasse the parties arrived at, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky notes Alexander was planning to attend this week’s mandatory minicamp.

[RELATED: Alexander’s Contract Impeded Packers’ Trade Efforts]

Two years remained on the former first-rounder’s contract, one which included nonguaranteed base salaries for the remainder of the pact. Alexander was due to carry cap charges of $24.64MM and $27.02MM, figures which were not feasible from the team’s perspective given his inability to remain healthy in recent years. By making this move after June 1, the Packers will see $17.12MM in cap savings while generating a dead money charge of $7.52MM.

Alexander has spent each of his seven NFL seasons in Green Bay, operating as a full-time starter throughout his time with the team. The Louisville product has been one of the league’s top corners when healthy, and he collected a second-team All-Pro nod in 2020 and ’22. During the latter campaign, Alexander set a new career high with five interceptions while recording double-digit pass deflections (14) for the fourth time. Both years since then, however, he has played only seven games.

That lack of availability has made Alexander’s Packers future a talking point for some time now. A trade was not only explored in this case, but the team shopped him prior to free agency. No agreement was worked out on that front, and shortly after the new league year began Green Bay inked Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48MM pact. The former Raider will be a key member of the Packers’ new-look secondary this season as the team looks to move forward without a defensive mainstay in the fold any longer.

In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how much of a market develops for Alexander late in the offseason. Suitors were understandably hesitant about parting ways with draft capital given his injury issues and the possibility of a release taking place. Now that Alexander is indeed set to become a free agent, any number of teams have the financial wherewithal to pursue what will no doubt be a short-term deal. Alexander was the league’s highest-paid corner at the time he inked his Packers extension, but his earning power will of course be greatly reduced this time around.

Jalen Ramsey looms as another high-profile corner available to interested teams, although the Dolphins All-Pro will (in all likelihood) be acquired via trade. Alexander, by contrast, can begin lining up visits with suitors once his release is processed later today.

Jaire Alexander’s Contract Impeded Packers’ Trade Attempts

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.

Assessing Packers’ CB Options Absent Jaire Alexander

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 Offer Restructured Deal To CB Jaire Alexander

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.

Packers Have Conducted Jaire Alexander Trade Talks

The top offseason storyline for the Packers remains the future of Jaire Alexander. The high-priced corner is still in the organization at this point, although he was absent from Green Bay’s voluntary workouts this week.

Participation on that front should not be expected as things stand. The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reports Alexander and the Packers have an agreement in place where he will not report to the team until a resolution on his situation is found. That update comes as little surprise given the extent to which the two-time Pro Bowler’s future remains in the air. Anderson confirms all options are still on the table in this situation.

One of those would see Alexander remain in Green Bay for the 2025 campaign, something which did not appear likely in February. Green Bay shopped the 28-year-old in advance of free agency, but no agreement was reached around that time or during the draft. Teams around the league have done most of the heavy lifting from a roster-building perspective by now, but Alexander is among the high-profile players still available deep into the offseason.

Per Anderson, Green Bay has conducted “exploratory” trade talks involving the Louisville product. No specific suitors have emerged to date, but she adds a pair of teams have kept tabs on this situation for a lengthy period of time. If a trade is to take place, an acquiring team will need to take on the two years remaining on Alexander’s contract (which does not include any outstanding guaranteed salaries).

With Alexander set to carry cap charges of $24.64MM and $27.02MM, a restructure could be in order to facilitate a trade. The former first-rounder’s preference, however, would be a release allowing him to join a new team as a free agent. Green Bay would need to wait until after June 1 until proceeding with a cut if the team were to take that approach given the cap implications of doing so. As a result, this saga could continue for several weeks (with mandatory minicamp looming later in June).

Jalen Ramsey joins Alexander as a veteran corner available on the trade market. The latter’s injury history – single-digit games played in three of the past four years – will no doubt hinder his market to at least an extent, but interest persists at this point.

Packers CB Jaire Alexander Would Prefer Release Over Trade

MAY 2: Head coach Matt LaFleur said on Friday (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky) Alexander took part in virtual meetings last week but added he has been absent for voluntary workouts in recent days. The first point at which Alexander’s attendance will be required is mandatory minicamp in June, by which point his future may be clear.

MAY 1: Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has been the subject of trade speculation throughout the offseason after playing just 34 games over the last four seasons due to injury.

The 28-year-old is due $37MM over the next two years, per OverTheCap, which may be too much money for another team to take on in a trade. In order to facilitate a deal, the Packers may have to eat some of his $16.15MM 2025 salary, or Alexander would have to accept a revised contract, which would likely include a pay cut.

While Green Bay could afford to take on some of Alexander’s salary, they may not want to pay part of his salary for him to play for a different team. Alexander, meanwhile, would prefer to be released to he can choose his next destination, and he may deny an attempt to renegotiate his deal to help complete a trade, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

“I would think, at this point, the most likely scenario is that he’s back [in Green Bay] on a reduced contract that has incentives,” added Breer. Those incentives would almost certainly be centered around Alexander’s playing time given his injury history.

The Packers have grown accustomed to playing without Alexander and signed Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48MM contract this offseason to give themselves more options in the secondary. If Alexander stays in Green Bay, he’ll start on the outside opposite Keisean Nixon with Hobbs in the slot. If not, Hobbs will likely pair with Nixon on the outside with safety Javon Bullard at nickel, according to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman.

The 2024 second-rounder began his rookie year primarily playing free safety, but increasingly dropped into the slot as the year went on, especially after Alexander went down. If Alexander stays, Bullard might be relegated to the bench to give the Packers depth and injury insurance for multiple positions.

CB Jaire Alexander Could Play For Packers In 2025

For the last year and a half, the Packers and cornerback Jaire Alexander have been in contract discussions as injuries limit what Green Bay is getting out of an expensive contract. The two parties were hoping to resolve things before last week’s draft, but after failing to do so, will continue to work towards a reconciliation, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

Back in 2022, the Packers signed Alexander to a four-year, $84MM extension, and the then-25-year-old delivered a Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro season as a result. In the past two years since then, though, Alexander has only made seven starts in each season due to an assortment of injuries. Because of the missed time, the team explored trading their veteran cornerback. But, since then, the no resolution has presented itself.

Demovsky cites a source who says that the options for Alexander include a release, a trade, or a return to Green Bay — essentially, “all options are still on the table.” The reason a trade or release are options worth considering is because Alexander’s extension has a potential out built into it between the 2024 and 2025 NFL seasons.

Instead of paying out salary cap hits of $24.64MM and $27.02MM over the next two seasons, Green Bay could cut or trade Alexander with only $17.04MM of dead cap. If they do either with a post-June 1 designation, the dead cap figure is reduced to just $7.52MM.

Based on the roster makeup, there has to be some preference for him to return to health and to the lineup. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Alexander was the only one of Green Bay’s corners to rank in the top 50 of the position, coming in at 19th. Behind him, the highest ranked cornerbacks on the roster are Carrington Valentine (54), Keisean Nixon (63), and Nate Hobbs (73).

The team waited until the seventh round to add any help in the draft, taking Tulane’s Micah Robinson late on Day 3, so one would assume that there’s hope in Green Bay that an amended deal can be reached. If not, it’s certainly possible that Alexander could end up playing elsewhere in 2025.

Packers Aim To Resolve Jaire Alexander Situation Before Draft

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.