Two consecutive injury-plagued seasons marked the end of cornerback Jaire Alexander‘s career with the Packers, though it took some time to get there.
The Packers informed Jaire Alexander on Monday that he will be released, capping off an offseason saga in which the two parties attempted to reach an agreement.
It happened one day before Jaire Alexander was supposed to report for the team’s mandated minicamp after missing all of the in-person, voluntary exercises this offseason.
Jaire Alexander appeared in only seven regular-season games each of the previous two seasons and did not play after November 17 last year, despite semi-regular practices. He went on injured reserve in the final week of the season and underwent knee surgery for what he claimed was a torn PCL. Nonetheless, he placed second on the team in pass breakups (seven) and tied for second in interceptions (two).
That occurred a year after shoulder and knee problems, as well as a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the club, limited him to only seven games.
Jaire Alexander’s Contract Fallout and Career Legacy
The 2018 first-round pick has two years left on his four-year, $84 million deal extension, which made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL at the time. The Packers will gain more than $17 million in salary-cap space this season.
Jaire Alexander, an All-Pro in 2020 and 2022, has featured in 34 of a possible 68 games since the start of the 2021 season, a year in which he played only four regular-season games due to a shoulder injury.
Shortly after the 2024 season concluded, sources privately stated that the club no longer wanted to play the weekly game of determining if Jaire Alexander was healthy enough to play or willing to play at less than 100%.
“I know it’s been really, really frustrating for not only him as a player, but us as a club,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said shortly after the season ended. “It’s difficult to have a player who has done so much for us in the past and not be able to get him on the field on a consistent basis. You know it’s bad for the athlete and the organization.”
Following those remarks, Gutekunst stated that he would be willing to trade Jaire Alexander.
“We invested a lot in Jaire and want to make sure, if he’s not going to be on our football team helping us win games, that we get something back for that investment,” Gutekunst said at the end of March. “So we’ll see where it goes, but again, working with him weekly and trying to figure out what’s best for both Jaire and the Packers.”
After the draft ended without a trade, the Packers explored keeping Jaire Alexander, but only if he was prepared to restructure his deal. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Packers even offered Jaire Alexander a reworked contract in recent days, but the two parties were unable to reach an agreement.
Jaire Alexander was set to earn $17.5 million this season, but none of it was guaranteed.
He appeared to know the end was near when he declined to talk with reporters on locker cleanup day, stating he had “nothing good to say” and did not know if he would return in 2025.
Throughout seven seasons, Jaire Alexander proved to be a consistent playmaker in the Packers’ secondary. His ability to read quarterbacks and break on the ball made him a key asset in Green Bay’s defence.
Including playoff appearances, Alexander tallied an impressive 15 interceptions. His performance on the field reflected both instinct and preparation, earning him recognition as one of the league’s more reliable cornerbacks during his time with the team.
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