While most news surrounding the Green Bay Packers at the combine saw them as buyers (looking to be players in free agency, allegedly inquiring about D.K. Metcalf, etc.), there’s at least one spot where they look to be sellers.
After Brian Gutekunst’s “We’ll see” comments following the end of the season, it wasn’t surprising to find out the Packers were testing cornerback Jaire Alexander‘s trade market.
Alexander is still one of the best cornerbacks in the league when on the field. However, the second part of that statement is the issue. A plethora of injuries caused the former star to miss 34 of the last 68 games — half, if my math is correct.
Availability is the most coveted trait in the NFL, and Alexander, despite high levels of play, hasn’t been able to provide that.
Alexander would be the best cornerback on the market and in demand. However, his injury history and contract are tough sells for any buyer, and the Packers may have to release the Pro Bowler. Based on the waters at the NFL Combine, Green Bay and the fanbase should be happy to get anything for Alexander.
In February, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that the Packers have been privately frustrated with Alexander’s ability to stay on the field and play through injuries — unsurprising considering it wasn’t long ago they made him the highest-paid cornerback in the league. A disciplinary issue also caused Alexander to miss a game in 2023.
Alexander didn’t play after mid-November 2024 despite practicing weekly and never landing on IR.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein reported that the Packers didn’t rule out a return but gave the impression they were ready to move on. The Packers reportedly didn’t ask for a pay cut, knowing Alexander’s camp would refuse.
Between that injury history, Gutekunst’s non-committal answers, Alexander’s own “nothing good to say” comment during locker cleanout, and Keisean Nixon‘s lobbying to be the team’s CB1, it’s unsurprising to see both parties looking to split.
The NFL knows the Packers will move on, so there isn’t an immediate rush to make a deal. Alexander’s new team would incur a $17.5 million cap hit, a gamble for a player who only played in seven games each of the past two seasons.
After the combine, Fox Sports’ Jordan Shultz reported that most NFL executives believe the Packers will ultimately release Alexander.
Packer Report’s Daire Carragher got a similar vibe from the combine. He said most teams expected a release, though Alexander is still an option for at least one team with a large amount of Day 3 capital. However, he’s considered “a contingency plan, not a preference” compared to other free-agent corners.
That doesn’t mean something won’t happen between now and the start of free agency. Deadlines spur action, and some teams might not want to chance Alexander landing elsewhere. Still, fans shouldn’t expect Day 1 or 2 picks if a deal does manifest.
While the circumstances aren’t the same, fans can look at Deebo Samuel‘s recent trade as a “best-case” scenario.
It was clear the San Francisco 49ers were willing to release Samuel, who had health issues and whose best season was four years ago. Still, the Washington Commanders saw him as a good fit for their offense and offered a fifth-round pick. For the right team, the Packers could, hopefully, snag a Day 3 pick.
On the other hand, another recent trade could be a cautionary tale. The New Orleans Saints received a third-, fourth-, and sixth-round pick for cornerback Marshon Lattimore and a fifth-round pick. Like Alexander, Lattimore was a former star player who couldn’t stay on the field. After being traded to Washington, Lattimore played in just two games. Not a great value and might make teams skeptical about trading for an oft-injured player.
There are good fits for Alexander, including the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets, and Alexander should be in high demand if released. In that case, he probably ends up on the Minnesota Vikings or something.
There’s a faint chance Green Bay can get a deal with a CB-needy team before then and get some return for a player who won’t play for them in 2025. Fans should be ecstatic if the Packers can get a fourth or fifth-round pick for Alexander. Even just a year ago, Alexander would have been worth more. However, with his injury history, contract, and the fact that teams know he’ll be on the market, any return for the cornerback is cause for cheers and celebration.
