The 2024 NFL season is looming, and both the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys have their sights set on securing playoff berths once again.
In 2023, the Cowboys harbored hopes of clinching the Super Bowl, while the Packers dedicated the season to assessing their potential franchise quarterback—a quest that ultimately affirmed their confidence in their current signal-caller.
However, the football landscape is now buzzing with news of a potential trade that could have a profound impact on both teams.
Matthew Schmidt, a prominent analyst at NFL Analysis Network, has shed light on this intriguing possibility:
“Do the Cowboys need Alexander? Not necessarily, as they will be getting Trevon Diggs back from a torn ACL next season, and DaRon Bland had a breakout 2023. However, they will likely be losing Stephon Gilmore to free agency, and in a heavy passing league where having several good cornerbacks is becoming more and more important, Dallas may sniff around to see if it can snatch Alexander away from Green Bay. If the Cowboys offer the Packers a 2024 first-round draft pick for Alexander, Green Bay may very well just pull the trigger.”
Financially speaking, parting ways with Jaire Alexander at this juncture seems unwise. Just last season, the Packers and Alexander inked a lucrative four-year, $84 million contract extension.
At the time of signing, only $30 million was guaranteed as a signing bonus out of that $84 million total. Over the course of Alexander’s five-year deal, this bonus has been prorated at a rate of $6 million per year, spread across the salary cap.
Consequently, in the 2024 season, the Packers would incur a substantial $18 million dead cap hit—the remaining signing bonus—should they choose to trade or release Alexander. It’s worth noting that a significant portion of Alexander’s 2023 earnings was also structured as a bonus. Opting to part ways with him in 2024 would tack on an additional $9.4 million to the overall dead cap figure.
Beyond the financial considerations, Jaire Alexander holds a pivotal leadership role within the team, a fact underscored by head coach Matt LaFleur’s outspoken admiration for the All-Pro cornerback.
While this is an intriguing thought, Packers fans shouldn’t expect to see Alexander traded this offseason despite all of the rumblings and rumors.
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