Many Green Bay Packers fans were surprised when the news dropped that the franchise chose to cut All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander. While trade rumors have swirled all offseason, it appeared that the team and Alexander were nearing a deal that would keep him with the Packers.
That deal was reportedly a restructured contract that would have paid him less than the $16.5 million he was due for the 2025 season. Alexander apparently turned that down, which sealed his fate.
Packers’ Mark Murphy Says Jaire Alexander Was Elite but Unavailable
After playing college football for Louisville, Alexander was the Packers’ first-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. He got off to a strong start and was named to the All-Rookie team his first season.
He was a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. However, injuries plagued his career, especially after the 2021 season.
Now, Packers’ president, Mark Murphy, is opening up about this tough decision. In a video posted on X by WBAY sports director, Dave Schroder, Murphy was asked about Alexander’s time with the team and what went into this decision.
“He’s been a great player for us,” Murphy explained. “Obviously elite talent, just unfortunately, just injured a lot. Unfortunately, that’s a big part of our game.”
In 2021, Alexander was placed on the injured reserve and missed 13 games after an AC shoulder joint injury. He was able to play the majority of the games in 2022, but he only played seven games in both 2023 and 2024.
Mark Murphy on the Packers releasing Jaire Alexander: “ He has been a great player for us. Obviously, elite talent. Unfortunately, just injured a lot.” pic.twitter.com/gJmPInutpK
— Dave Schroeder (@SchroederWBAY) June 9, 2025
In 2023, he missed three games due to a back injury and then another six due to a shoulder injury. The 2024 season showed that Alexander could still play at a high level when 100%. However, he suffered an injury to his PCL ligament in his knee, which ultimately required surgery to be repaired.
During his seven seasons with Green Bay, Alexander had 12 interceptions, three forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, and 287 combined tackles.
From Return Ace to Starting Corner: Keisean Nixon Is the Next Man Up
Murphy was also asked how he feels about losing Alexander and how the team would be able to “absorb the hit” that comes with losing their starting cornerback. He indicated this is something they feel they have already been dealing with.
“I feel pretty good,” Murphy said. “I think Keisean Nixon, what a great story – undrafted, All-Pro returner. The reality is, for like the last four years, it’s about half of the games he’s been able to play, so we’ve been used to it.”
Nixon was an undrafted rookie free agent in 2019 out of the University of South Carolina by the then-Oakland Raiders. The Packers signed him in 2022, and he shone as a return specialist. He was the NFL kickoff return yards leader and a First-Team All-Pro in both 2022 and 2023.
The injuries to Alexander provided Nixon with numerous opportunities to prove himself on defense in 2024. Now, the team will likely look to Nixon to step up and help fill the void left by Alexander’s absence.
