The Green Bay Packers made a significant roster move on Monday, June 9, 2025, by releasing two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, a decision that had been anticipated throughout the offseason. This move marks the end of a seven-season tenure with the Packers for Alexander, who established himself as one of the NFL's premier players at one of the game's most challenging positions.
Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst reflected on Alexander's impact, stating, "In his seven seasons with the Packers, Jaire established himself as one of the premier players in the NFL at one of the game's most challenging positions. His contributions to our organization were felt on the field, in the locker room and in our community, and he will be missed. We appreciate all he gave and we wish him all the best moving forward." Meanwhile, Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy described Alexander as an "elite talent" who was "injured a lot," acknowledging the challenges that ultimately shaped the decision.
Alexander's release was driven by a combination of factors, primarily his injury history and financial considerations. The Packers had attempted to renegotiate his contract, offering a restructured deal that would have involved a pay cut. However, Alexander was unwilling to accept a reduced salary, opting instead to test free agency. According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Alexander is confident he will earn more money on the open market than the Packers' proposed offer.
Financially, the move provides Green Bay with substantial cap relief. Alexander was slated to earn $17.5 million in 2025 and $19.5 million in 2026, with no guarantees remaining on his contract. Due to prior restructures, his cap hits were projected at $24.636 million in 2025, $27.018 million in 2026, and $2.005 million in a void year in 2027. Because the release occurred after June 1, the Packers will incur a dead money charge of $7.518 million in 2025 and $9.525 million in 2026. Despite this, the Packers will save approximately $17.117 million in 2025, $17.493 million in 2026, and $2.005 million in 2027.
This cap space boost is significant. Prior to the release, Green Bay had $28.939 million in cap room, which now increases to $46.056 million, ranking them third in the NFL for available cap space. Moreover, the Packers were projected to be $9.959 million over the cap in 2026 but now anticipate having $7.534 million in cap space that year. This financial flexibility is critical as the team navigates roster building and future contract negotiations.
Timing played a pivotal role in the Packers' decision. Alexander's 2025 base salary would not become guaranteed until Week 1 of the season, but the team's mandatory minicamp was scheduled for the week of his release. The Packers were unwilling to risk Alexander attending and potentially suffering an injury that would have obligated them to pay significant additional money. With no trade partner willing to absorb his contract without a pay cut and no agreement on a restructure, releasing Alexander was the safest and most pragmatic option.
On the field, Alexander's departure leaves a notable void in the Packers' secondary. Despite his injury struggles, he was the team's best cornerback when healthy, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2020 and 2022 and second-team All-Pro recognition in those same years. Over his seven seasons, Alexander accumulated 12 interceptions, 70 passes defensed, and 287 tackles across 78 games, showcasing his impact when on the field.
However, injuries have limited his availability significantly in recent years. Alexander played only seven games in both 2023 and 2024, hindered by back, shoulder, quad, and knee issues. A shoulder injury restricted him to just four games in 2021. These health concerns, coupled with a Week 17 suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, clouded his long-term outlook in Green Bay.
With Alexander gone, the Packers' cornerback group faces uncertainty. The team signed Nate Hobbs in free agency, who is expected to start alongside Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine in the nickel defense. Javon Bullard is also firmly in the conversation for the slot corner role. The depth chart includes several young players—Kalen King, Micah Robinson, and Kamal Hadden—who will compete for playing time. Notably, the combined cap hit for these six cornerbacks is less than $16.5 million, which is lower than Alexander's cap hit alone.
The Packers have made some upgrades at cornerback this offseason by bringing in Hobbs to replace Eric Stokes, who left in free agency. Nixon showed steady improvement last season, and Valentine made significant strides down the stretch in 2024. Bullard is expected to build on a unique rookie year, and younger players like Hadden have drawn praise from teammates, with Nixon calling his OTAs performance "outstanding." Still, these are projections, and the cornerback position remains the biggest X-factor on the Packers' roster entering 2025.
Alexander's release also opens the door for him to explore opportunities elsewhere in the NFL. At just 28 years old and with a history of elite performance when healthy, he is expected to attract interest from multiple teams despite his recent injury concerns. Potential landing spots include the Philadelphia Eagles, who lost key members of their secondary and often seek veteran talent; the Los Angeles Rams, who have struggled at cornerback and have shown interest in Alexander before; and the Minnesota Vikings, who could benefit from Alexander's aggressive coverage style and have a notable divisional rivalry history with him.
Other teams that could pursue Alexander are the Baltimore Ravens, who need to replace departed cornerbacks and could upgrade over current options; the Carolina Panthers, where Alexander's skill set could fit their aggressive defensive schemes and offer a homecoming of sorts given his North Carolina roots; and the Las Vegas Raiders, led by head coach Pete Carroll, known for building elite secondaries and currently in need of improvement at the cornerback position.
Alexander's career has been marked by high-level play when on the field. In 2020, he earned an elite 91.1 PFF coverage grade, allowing fewer than 400 receiving yards and breaking up 14 passes. Despite limited snaps in recent seasons, his single-season PFF coverage grades have never fallen below 73.0, underscoring his talent. However, his availability remains the most significant concern.
As the Packers move forward without Alexander, they are taking a leap of faith in their young cornerbacks and recent acquisitions. The team's ability to contend for a Super Bowl in 2025 may hinge on the development and health of this group. Meanwhile, Alexander embarks on a new chapter, aiming to prove he can return to form and make a substantial impact elsewhere in the league.
