Packers make tough but inevitable decision with Jaire Alexander, and it alters the complexity of the roster

Jaire Alexander has been released

After a successful stint became a concerning series of injuries over the past four seasons, the Packers decided to release Jaire Alexander, making him a free agent.

"When you have a player that has done what he's done for us in the past, and then not being able to get him on the field consistently, that's tough," Gutekunst said after the season. "It's tough on the player, it's tough on the organization."

The Packers didn't want the risk of allowing Alexander to practice throughout mandatory minicamp without an adjusted deal in place.

Financial implications

The Packers were slated to pay Jaire $17.5 million in 2025 and $19.5 million in 2026, but there were no guarantees left. So that's how much Green Bay will save in cash. However, it's a different consideration in terms of the salary cap hit.

Jaire's hit would be $24.636 million in 2025. The Packers will have $7.518 million in dead money and $17.117 million in cap savings in 2025. But there will still be $9.525 million in dead money left for 2026, since the move was executed after June 1.

History

The 18th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Jaire Alexander quickly became one of the prime pieces of the Packers' defense. The cornerback made the All-Rookie Team in 2018 and was a Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler twice, in 2020 and 2022.

In 2022, Jaire signed a four-year, $84 million extension. Injuries, though, affected his value for the team.

Alexander missed 34 of the last 68 games because of multiple injuries—shoulder, knee, groin. In 2023, he also missed one game because of a team-imposed suspension.

Roster implications

Without Jaire, cornerback immediately becomes the top need for the Packers' roster ahead of the 2025 season. The group has Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, Carrington Valentine, Kamal Hadden, Kalen King, Gregory Junior, Micah Robinson, Johnathan Baldwin, Isaiah Dunn, and Tyron Herring.