Former Packers $21 Million Star Named Potential Replacement For Jaire Alexander

Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine should be Green Bay’s starting cornerbacks for the 2025 season. Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley has a reputation for developing defensive backs and could help elevate the Packers’ secondary into a game-changing force. However, both Nixon and Hobbs—who will likely start on the outside in Green Bay’s traditional 4-3 defense—have spent most of their careers playing in the slot. As a result, the Packers currently lack a cornerback with reliable, long-term experience playing on the outside.

With just under three months remaining until the start of the regular season, Green Bay still has time to explore additional options for their defensive backfield. Recently, a Packers writer highlighted a familiar face as a potential target to fill the void left by two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro Jaire Alexander, who was released on Monday.

AtoZ Sports’ Wendell Ferreira put together a list of 10 possible targets Green Bay could consider to replace Alexander, and one familiar name he included was Rasul Douglas, who previously played for the Packers.

"I don't need to tell who Rasul is, even though the Packers would probably get a different version of him," Wendell wrote. "First, he will be 31 by the start of the regular season. Second, Green Bay now plays a new defensive scheme under Jeff Hafley, and the cornerback was a good fit in Joe Barry's style. Last but not least, Douglas did show some signs of regression last year, and that's ultimately why the Buffalo Bills did not re-sign him."

Douglas had a down year last season compared to his previous three, but Wendell believes he could still bring value to Green Bay through his strong locker room presence. 

"After allowing a passer rating when targeted below 90 for three consecutive years, Rasul's number in 2024 was 123.7," Wendell said. "He also committed nine penalties. He is a good locker room presence and for the right price, it could make sense. Historically, though, Gutekunst isn't high on bringing players back."

Green Bay picked up Rasul Douglas from the Arizona Cardinals practice squad in 2021, and he quickly became a key part of the defense. In March 2022, he agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with the Packers and played all 17 games that season. The following year, he appeared in seven games before being traded to the Buffalo Bills, along with a fifth-round pick, in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick. 

Douglas is currently a free agent. The Packers could try to work out a friendly deal with the former Packer, but Gutekunst seems confident in the team’s current options. Still, if Douglas is still a free agent midseason, Green Bay could give him a call. He could quickly fit in with the locker room and provide valuable depth to the roster.