More than a month after the Packers said they were going to shop Jaire Alexander, he’s still on the team. Despite his $21 million per year extension, Alexander has not lived up to the hype and it seems the Packers are still willing to move on from him. But finding a trade partner to meet Green Bay’s asking price has been tough.
Why Teams Are Holding Back?
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein, teams are interested in Alexander but are waiting for the Packers to make the first move. Brian Gutekunst said earlier this offseason the team wanted a reasonable return on their investment. So far, offers have not met their expectations.
Alexander won’t restructure his contract which has made things even more complicated. With two years and $32 million left on his deal, suitors may view his cap hit as too high especially with his injury history and inconsistent play the last two seasons. Since 2023 he’s missed 20 regular season games. And his suspension last season for an unusual coin toss incident against the Panthers didn’t help his reputation.
The Dead Money Dilemma
If the Packers trade Alexander before June 1, they’d absorb 17 million in dead money—as a significant burden for a team in rebuild mode. Waiting until after June 1 would allow them to spread some of that cap hit into 2026 while creating 17.2 million in savings for 2025.
For interested teams, Alexander’s 16.15 million base salary in 2025 is another hurdle. Based on his recent attendance record and performance, few teams seem to want to take on that financial commitment without a restructured deal—something Alexander reportedly isn’t willing to do.
Could the Draft Be the Turning Point?
Green Bay was close to trading Alexander at the start of free agency but multiple things got in the way. Now all eyes are on the draft where another window opens. All three days of the draft are tradeable and it’s not hard to imagine Alexander getting late round capital if no early suitors emerge.
A previous report said the Packers wanted this situation resolved by the draft. But waiting until after might work in their favor. By seeing which teams don’t address their cornerback needs during the draft, the Packers can identify more desperate buyers. This could increase their chances of getting better compensation for Alexander.
Packers’ Cornerback Situation Moving Forward
Even if Alexander leaves, the Packers still need a cornerback. They didn’t re-sign Eric Stokes, their 2021 first round pick, who went to the Raiders after Nate Hobbs went to Green Bay. Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine are under contract but neither offers the stability or star power Alexander once did.
The Dolphins granting Jalen Ramsey permission to seek a trade adds another layer to the cornerback market. As one of the top cornerbacks available, Ramsey leaving Miami could take the spotlight off Alexander. But the Packers want to remake their secondary so Alexander’s situation will still be front and center in the coming weeks.
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