The Green Bay Packers are expected to release two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, according to sources who spoke to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It had previously been reported that Alexander and the Packers were trying to find a middle ground that would’ve made both sides happy.

“First of all, he’s been a great player for us,” Packers president Mark Murphy told WBAY-TV. “Obviously, an elite talent and, you know, unfortunately, just injured a lot. Unfortunately, that’s a big part of our game. The reality is for the last four years, for Jaire, it’s about half of the games he’s been able to play. So we kind of have been used to it.”

The #Packers are releasing star CB Jaire Alexander today, sources say. pic.twitter.com/62YSryGYE4

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 9, 2025

The Packers attempted to trade Alexander both before and during the 2025 NFL Draft. However, the team attempted to reach a resolution with the former first-round pick after Green Bay was unable to find a trade partner. Eventually, the Packers offered Alexander a pay reduction, which he rejected.

After being selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Jaire Alexander played seven seasons for Green Bay, where he was elected to two Pro Bowls and named a Second-Team All-Pro twice. Since the beginning of the 2021 season, Alexander has only started in 34 of the franchise’s 68 regular-season games.

Horrible mismanagement by the Packers

The Green Bay Packers’ secondary was already underwhelming to begin with. Their safeties aren’t bad, but Jaire Alexander was undoubtedly their best cornerback. With him on the way out, that means the Packs’ starting corners will be Nate Hobbs and Keisean Nixon. Those guys aren’t good enough to be starters in a division with Justin Jefferson, D.J. Moore, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and a slew of other talented pass-catchers.

The person to blame here is general manager Brian Gutekunst. It’s not like Alexander’s release was unexpected. There was always a possibility that this could happen ever since the season ended. Yet, Gutekunst decided not to bring in any extra support in the secondary. He signed Nate Hobbs in free agency (ranked 103 out of 222 cornerbacks in pass coverage) and waited until the seventh round to draft a cornerback (Micah Robinson). That lack of a contingency at the cornerback position is managerial malpractice and a black mark on Brian Gutekunst’s otherwise respectable tenure as the Packers’ GM.

This whole situation is really embarrassing for one of the oldest and most respected organizations in North American sports. I would’ve preferred that Green Bay overpay a cornerback in free agency or reach for one in the draft rather than sit on their hands and let Jaire Alexander walk out the door for nothing.

Sources: The #Packers and #Bills held trade talks this offseason centered around CB Jaire Alexander, but talks ultimately fell through and Buffalo moved on.

It’s unclear if the Bills will revisit things now that Alexander has been released — especially since they spent a… pic.twitter.com/N2ZPnz7a2y

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 9, 2025

That’s the worst part of this whole ordeal. The Packers are getting nothing in return for a former Pro Bowler who just turned 28 years old and is entering his physical prime. I could’ve stomached trading him away for a fifth or even a sixth-round pick. But getting nothing in return for a guy who will likely find success wherever he goes is inexcusable.

My only hope for the Green Bay Packers’ cornerback room is that they make a trade for Jalen Ramsey, who the Dolphins are looking to move. Otherwise, they’ll have to wait until closer to the trade deadline and make a move for an impending free agent like Greg Newsome or Kaiir Elam. Either way, I expect Green Bay to actively be looking to add a veteran cornerback during training camp or the regular season.

Where could Alexander land?

There are plenty of teams that will be looking to sign Jaire Alexander to their roster, even if it’s only for one year. When healthy, he is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, and several franchises could use his services.

The reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles could use another cornerback on their roster. After losing Darius Slay, Philly needs a veteran corner to help teach the two young studs they drafted last off-season.

Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers added Darius Slay and Brandin Echols in free agency, Jaire Alexander is better than both of those guys. Considering they just signed Aaron Rodgers, it’s clear that Pittsburgh is looking to win a Super Bowl right now. Adding a former Pro Bowl cornerback could get them one step closer to that goal.

The Packers offered Jaire Alexander a reduced, incentive-laden one-year deal that’d make him a free agent in 2026—Alexander turned it down, not liking the structure. Green Bay tried to trade him in March, and during the draft.

That also failed, so Alexander’s a June free agent.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) June 9, 2025

The Miami Dolphins are already looking to move on from their number-one cornerback. If they managed to add Jaire Alexander, the decision to trade away Jalen Ramsey would become a lot easier to make.

If Alexander wants to get revenge on Green Bay, then he could even sign with the Minnesota Vikings, who had to let go of three of their top four cornerbacks from last season. If Minnesota is somehow able to sign Alexander and pair him with Pro Bowler Byron Murphy Jr., then they’ll have arguably the best secondary in the National Football League.

Jaire Alexander has no shortage of options. And, I’m confident that he will be able to return to Pro Bowl form wherever he signs. The Packers better just hope that he doesn’t land with a divisional rival.