The Green Bay Packers will have to make some huge decisions this offseason, and none looms larger than Jaire Alexander‘s future. He has been a key contributor for Green Bay since his arrival to the team in 2018 and has a case to be the team’s best defensive player. Unfortunately, injuries have been a huge issue for him, only playing more than seven games once in the last four seasons. That’s something unacceptable for a player with his contract and importance for the team.

So, it’s time for the Packers to address the elephant in the room: Should he remain a Packer next season? We’ll discuss the situation from both a football and business standpoint, using Over The Cap to provide you with a clear picture of Alexander’s contract.

Keep scenario:

If the Packers believe that Jaire Alexander’s level as a shutdown cornerback is too valuable for them to replace in the short term, they’ll want him back next season. Considering that GM Brian Gutekunst has placed emphasis on increasing urgency and competing for Super Bowls as often as possible, it makes sense to keep a player of Alexander’s caliber in the roster. When healthy, he changes the outlook defensively for Green Bay with his coverage skills.

Maybe, if they can upgrade the secondary’s depth, the Packers could live with Jaire’s availability issues. He would be a welcomed defensive boost come January. This scenario requires Alexander to take a pay cut to remain a Packer, as he’s slated to make $16 million next season while carrying roughly a $24 million cap hit. Most people believe he’s gone, but I wouldn’t rule out this possibility just yet.

Trade Scenario:

There are multiple reasons to suggest that the Packers want to get rid of Jaire Alexander. They haven’t been able to count with him often enough and he hasn’t played up to his deal. Obviously, they’d love to receive something in return if they want to part ways with him. Most likely than not, teams will be interested in acquiring the former All-Pro.

Now is when the business side of it becomes important. If the Packers trade him before June 1st, they would be assuming $18 million in dead cap with only $6.8 million in cap savings. If they do it post June 1st, they would only incur $7.8 million in dead cap while freeing $17 million in cap space. That’s a huge difference in the books for the Pack, so any trade involving him should have a post-June designation.

In terms of what they could get in return for him, we’re likely talking about either a pick swap that’s similar in structure to the Rasul Douglas trade (got a 3rd round pick, sent Douglas and a 5th) or something close to what the Saints got for Marshawn Lattimore from the Commanders (got one day 2 pick and multiple day 3 picks). It remains to be seen how much they will receive for him, but those deals could be a good base point.

Cut scenario:

There’s a world in which no team wants to absorb Jaire’s current deal. This would force the Packers to outright release him if they believe that he brings more harm than good to the team. Similar to the trade scenario, the transaction would have a post-June designation, as it’s way more favorable financially for Green Bay. If the trade happened, they’d have to deal with $7.8 million in dead cap. An additional $17 million in cap space would be added to the 2025 books.

Considering the Packers’ track record with similar situations, you can rest assured that the front office will take the right decision regarding Jaire’s future.

Go Pack Go!

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Lautaro has been writing about the Green Bay Packers and the NFL since May 2021, posting in both Spanish and English on his X account, PackersLatam. He joined PackersTalk in 2025.

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