Jaire Alexander’s time in Green Bay may be nearing its end. Just a day after Valentine’s Day, reports surfaced that the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback is most likely finished wearing green and yellow on game day, signaling a conceivable separation brewing over the past two seasons.
Alexander, drafted No. 18 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, has been a cornerstone of Green Bay’s defense when functional. Injuries have haunted his availability to take the field, restricting him to just 14 games played over the last two seasons.
Alexander’s relationship with the team seems to have fizzled with upper management, with outspoken Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst candidly admitting his true feelings over the star cornerback’s inability to stay on the field.”I know it’s been really, really frustrating for not only him as a player but us as a club,” Gutekunst said.
“When you have a player who’s done what he’s done for us in the past, and then not being able to get him out on the field consistently, that’s tough,” he continued. “You know it’s tough on the player, tough on the organization.”
Despite the transparent uncertainty, Gutekunst didn’t rule out keeping Alexander and referred to him as a “pretty good player” when available. Alexander has missed 34 out of his last 68 games due to shoulder, knee, and groin injuries.
The previously suspended CB’s most recent setback came late last season when he was placed on injured reserve ahead of Green Bay’s final game. He later disclosed that he had undergone knee surgery to repair a torn PCL, which ended his 2024 campaign. Alexander ignored the media during the team’s locker clean-out day and only said, “I have nothing good to say.” When asked about his future with the team, he said, “I don’t know if I’ll be back. ”
Even in limited action, Alexander remained one of Green Bay’s top defensive playmakers. He finished the year with 15 tackles, seven pass deflections [second on the team], two interceptions [tied for second], and 52 return yards [second on the team]. He also had the team’s only defensive touchdown, intercepting Will Levis in the first quarter of a 30-14 win over the Tennessee Titans.
The Packers face a potential franchise-changing decision concerning Alexander’s future with the team. With two years left on his four-year, $84 million contract extension, Green Bay could choose to release him before June 1, freeing up $6.8 million in cap space for 2025.
Designating Alexander as a post-June 1st cut could free up over $17 million. After adding All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney, the Packers’ secondary is already undergoing change that helped boost the unit to 16th in the league last season. Without Alexander, Green Bay would be left relying on a young and unproven group at cornerback, including Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine, and rookie Kamal Hadden.
