The Green Bay Packers barely let anyone open their eyes on Monday morning before dropping the big news that they had released cornerback Jaire Alexander from the roster, which comes via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
This was a pretty shocking development considering that Alexander seemed like a shoo-in to stick with the team after months of trade speculation. Now, he's free to sign with another squad in need of cornerback help.
Alexander has dealt with some injury issues the last few seasons with Green Bay, only playing in seven games in 2024 and in 2023. His last full season with the team was back in 2022, where he recorded five interceptions, 56 total tackles, 14 passes defended, and 16 stuff yards. He clearly has the capability to be a top defender in the NFC, but health has held him back recently.
With him now off the Packers, it means that the Detroit Lions aren't going to be facing off with him in Week 1 of the 2025 season. That's great news for receivers Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown, who would've undoubtedly had to lineup across from him throughout the game.
Alexander is off the Packers
Green Bay is now left with Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and Micah Robinson among others on their CB depth chart, but specifically still have an elite secondary defender in Xavier McKinney on the roster. Clearly, the Packers felt like they were set with talent on that end of the field without the looming contract issues involving Alexander.
Sports Illustrated's NFL insider Albert Breer had just reported back in May that Alexander seemed to be a sure-thing on this Packers roster, as neither side seemed willing to budge on what they wanted - Green Bay wanted him to take a pay cut to open things up on their books, Alexander refused. Stalemate occured, and now a decision has been made to rectify that issue.
Against the Lions, Alexander has a career stat line of just one interception and 19 solo tackles - not exactly dominant against a rival. Of course, he hasn't had a ton of playing time against Detroit given his injury history. This season would've been a golden opportunity for him to finally show up in a pretty big home game for Green Bay against the 2024 divisional champions.
Instead, Alexander is left to be claimed on the market. The Packers save $17.1 million in cap space by cutting Alexander after June 1, and Alexander is now left to go prove he's ready for a bounceback season elsewhere - hopefully, that elsewhere is not in the NFC North.
