It is not uncommon for trade rumors to start swirling soon before a big move is about to be made. Whether it’s teams trading star players or long-term contracts being terminated early to avoid money down the line, most players hit the end of the road with their teams, whether they want to or not. The Packers tried to find a spot to send Jaire Alexander, but teams seemed to read the room and realized the Packers were close to being in cap-hell. They simply waited for Green Bay to release him instead of giving up any assets to acquire him.
Alexander was an amazing CB for the Packers at times over seven seasons. It was smooth sailing for the 28-year-old CB at first, but things took a turn for the worse four years ago, and injuries began to stack up. Since that checkpoint, Alexander has not been able to play in half the games he was eligible to play. Going from a top-end CB to an unreliable starter wasn’t good for Jaire, nor for the Green Bay Packers, which led to the inevitable.
Jaire Alexander’s Trade Rumors
The biggest issue Jaire Alexander faced was his inability to play due to injuries, according to Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst. Availability is a skill, and it’s perhaps most important in the NFL. Alexander was a dominant presence on the field, but he couldn’t play to his full potential while sustaining multiple injuries. Since he was one of the highest-paid athletes on the team, the Packers decided it was time to revisit his contract.
Interested Parties And Jaire Alexander’s Future
In today’s NFL, half the league (at least) is usually always on the hunt for a cornerback. It’s very hard to find good ones, and the very good ones are rarely available. In other words, teams are happy to take fliers on the position. The issue is corners, like running backs, usually have a limited time at their “peak” level. The 30-year-old cliff is very real for most CBs, and Alexander is now 28 with a long list of injuries to his name.
However, there’s no doubt he’s a talented individual, and many teams may opt to pursue him, but it’s a question of whether Alexander wants to take a prove-it deal or hope someone gets desperate enough closer to the start of the season to give him something more to his liking. With only 14 games played in the past two seasons — and more missed in the seasons before that — most teams are probably not convinced they’ll get their money’s worth with the CB.
We can’t say for certain where Jaire Alexander will end up, but there seem to be a few potential teams inquiring about the star cornerback. These include the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins (who are also trying to move Jalen Ramsey), Los Angeles Rams (who probably want Jalen Ramsey), and the Carolina Panthers.
Madden’s Take On The Jaire Alexander Situation
Even though general managers might see him as a liability, Madden takes a different approach to the CB. In Madden NFL 25, Jaire Alexander boasts a 91 OVR, an impressive feat for someone we saw so little of in the regular season. This demonstrates that Alexander’s injuries did not impact his Madden rating, at least according to EA. In fact, according to the game’s simulation, teams like the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, and Minnesota Vikings regularly sign Alexander during free agency.
Teams like the Dolphins and Vikings seem to be a great fit according to Madden, but real life coaches and GMs might tend to disagree (and Alexander’s fit in a locker room also matters more in real life than in Madden). Either way, there’s no question Alexander will have a spot in the NFL this upcoming season, it’s just a question of whether or not that will be in the NFC North or elsewhere.
