Packers haven’t given up on compensation for Jaire Alexander even as a possible return grows more likely
Jaire Alexander is most likely gone, but not everything is decided at this point. And the Green Bay Packers are getting their ultimate leverage point trying to get something in return for the former All-Pro cornerback.According to ESPN's beat writer Rob Demovsky, the Packers are keeping all their options on the table, including bringing Jaire […]
Jaire Alexander is most likely gone, but not everything is decided at this point. And the Green Bay Packers are getting their ultimate leverage point trying to get something in return for the former All-Pro cornerback.
According to ESPN's beat writer Rob Demovsky, the Packers are keeping all their options on the table, including bringing Jaire back for the 2025 season.
According to a source, the Packers and Jaire Alexander continue to talk about a possible resolution, which could include a reconciliation to where Alexander plays for the Packers in 2025 after all. All options are still on the table: release, trade or return. — Rob Demovsky.
Before the draft, general manager Brian Gutekunst had said that getting some type of compensation was a priority for the Packers.
"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 explained. "So we'll see where it goes."
During the draft, nothing materialized for the trade. Now, it could make sense to wait until June 2 to execute a trade or to release Alexander, which would increase the 2025 cap savings. After that date, cap savings in 2025 jump to $17.117 million, with $7.518 million of dead money in 2025 and $9.525 million in 2026. In his post-draft press conference, Gutekunst said the team is still evaluating its options.
"No real updates on that," the GM said. "He's on our roster now, and that’s how we’ll proceed. We’ll figure it out as we go along."
Options open
Ultimately, it could make sense for the Packers to keep Jaire Alexander if he's willing to take a paycut. He's slated to make $17.5 million in 2025 and $19.5 million in 2026. A potential new agreement could, for instance, include a paycut in 2025, and in exchange, Alexander could have incentives tied to playing time to make the money back, and even a resolution to exclude the final year of his deal, making him a free agent next offseason.
At the same time, this is also the Packers exercising their leverage trying to get something in return. If Green Bay releases Alexander now, he could sign elsewhere for nothing and have a full training camp for the new team—maybe even a rival NFC North team.
By keeping him on the roster, the Packers wait to see if an opportunity arises. And by saying there's a chance for a return, Green Bay applies pressure on interested teams to give up something.
However, the way the draft shook out, without a significant Packers' investment at the cornerback position, made a reunion with Jaire more realistic—both because Green Bay needs him to some degree, and because the market for veteran cornerbacks dried up a little bit.
Matt LaFleur shares unexpected insight into Jaire Alexander situation, leaving Packers fans with more questions than answers
Alexander was a part of the team’s offseason activities
