This Potential Replacement for Jaire Alexander Makes Sense for the Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers announced they are parting ways with cornerback Jaire Alexander earlier this week. That leaves the team with questions at cornerback as they prepare for the 2025 NFL season. The team lacks experienced depth at the position right now. But there is a potential replacement for Jaire Alexander that makes sense for the Packers who is presently available as a free agent. Furthermore, it’s somebody the team is already familiar with.

This Potential Replacement for Jaire Alexander Makes Sense for the Packers: The Present Situation

Without Alexander, the Packers have limited depth at cornerback. The likely starters are Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs on the boundary. When the team goes to nickel, Carrington Valentine could be inserted into the lineup with Hobbs moving to the slot. Javon Bullard will also compete to start in the slot.

After that, the team lacks experienced depth. In fact, at mandatory OTAs on Tuesday, veteran wide receiver Bo Melton was taking practice reps at cornerback for the first time since joining the Packers three years ago.

If injuries strike at cornerback this year, the Packers could face a difficult challenge because of their lack of experienced depth. In addition, GM Brian Gutekunst didn’t draft a cornerback until the seventh round when he added Micah Robinson.

Rasul Douglas Remains a Free Agent

Former Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas remains a free agent. He at least parts of three seasons with the Packers. Green Bay signed him off the Cardinals practice squad during the 2021 season when injuries hit the secondary.

Douglas made his first interception with the Packers in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals. The pick came in the final minute and helped seal a 24-21 win over the then unbeaten Cardinals.

In 12 games with the Packers, Douglas intercepted five passes and ran two of them back for scores. Opposing quarterbacks completed just 50 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Douglas according to pro-football-reference.com and had a quarterback rating of just 44.5.

Douglas intercepted four more passes in 2022 while playing all 17 games and starting 12. He played the first seven games of the 2023 season with the Packers before they traded him to Buffalo at the trade deadline.

Douglas enjoyed a strong finish to the 2023 season and intercepted five total passes. Unfortunately, he struggled in 2024 and did not intercept a pass. Opposing quarterbacks completed 72.9 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by the West Virginia alum and had a quarterback rating of 122.0.

This Potential Replacement for Jaire Alexander Makes Sense for the Packers: Looking Ahead

The Bills released Douglas after the 2024 season. He is now an unrestricted free agent. The Packers would only have to pay his salary to sign him. Even before the release of Alexander, the team had plenty of cap space to add a player like Douglas.

Douglas will turn 30 in August. He should have another good season or two left in him. Even if he doesn’t win a starting job, he would provide the Packers with experienced depth at cornerback in case injuries hit at the position.

Because he is coming off a down season, the Packers could probably sign him for less money than they could have a year ago. The deal would be for one year, two at most and would likely only include a moderate signing bonus.

This would be a low risk move that could provide the team with badly needed depth at a position that is likely lacking the most depth.

Now the question is whether Gutekunst would be willing to sign Douglas and if Douglas is willing to return to Green Bay to continue his NFL career. It would put him on a team that is expected to make the playoffs and should be a contender. He would be familiar with the organization and many teammates as well.

The move makes sense if both sides are willing. Now it’s up to Gutekunst to make this move or another to add cornerback depth.