Packers preparing move to cut Jaire Alexander

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers are set to release two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, sources told ESPN, following a prolonged saga marked by injuries and failed contract negotiations. The decision, confirmed on June 9, 2025, comes after candid remarks from Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy, who highlighted Alexander’s persistent absence due to injuries. “The reality is for the last four years for Jaire, it’s about half of the games he’s been able to play,” Murphy told WBAY-TV at a charity golf outing. “So, we’ve kind of been used to it.”

Alexander, 28, has played in only 34 of a possible 68 games since 2021, including just 14 over the past two seasons, per NFL.com. His injury history—ranging from a 2021 shoulder issue to a 2024 torn PCL—frustrated the organization, which grew weary of the weekly uncertainty over his availability. “It’s been really, really frustrating for not only him but us as a club,” General Manager Brian Gutekunst said after the 2024 season, per ESPN. The Packers offered Alexander a restructured contract to reduce his $17.5 million 2025 salary, but the two sides could not agree, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Murphy’s comments underscored the team’s readiness to move forward without their former All-Pro, a first-round pick in 2018 who signed a four-year, $84 million extension in 2022. “He’s been a great player for us. Obviously, elite talent,” Murphy said. “Unfortunately, just injured a lot.” The release saves the Packers $6.8 million in cap space, per Spotrac, as they prepare for a 2025 season with ample cap room projected at $67 million.

Fans on X were divided. “Jaire’s elite when healthy, but that’s rare,” posted @PackersNation. Others, like @NFLInsider, lamented, “Cutting Ja now feels like giving up too soon.” The move leaves Green Bay’s secondary relying on Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and new signing Nate Hobbs, who allowed a 42.9% completion rate in 2024, per Sports Info Solutions. Despite Alexander’s absence, the Packers’ defense performed well in 2024, with Nixon and Valentine stepping up, per PackersWire.

Alexander’s tenure wasn’t without controversy. A 2023 one-game suspension for a coin-toss mixup in Carolina strained relations, though he expressed a desire to stay, per AP News. His 2024 season ended with a knee injury requiring surgery, and his refusal to rework his deal signaled the end. “He’s betting on himself in the open market,” tweeted @YoungBull_Lynch.

As the Packers head into mandatory minicamp on June 10, the focus shifts to younger corners and potential draft additions, with fans like @CheeseheadTV hopeful: “Nixon and Hobbs can hold it down.” Alexander, now an unrestricted free agent, is expected to draw interest despite his injury history, given his 12 career interceptions and 70 passes defended. For Green Bay, the decision marks a pivotal step in a new defensive era, with Murphy’s words echoing a team accustomed to moving on without their once-star cornerback.