The situation between Jaire Alexander and the Green Bay Packers is complicated. As the franchise prepares for the 2025 NFL season, a move involving the player is still possible, whether that means trading him to another team or restructuring his current contract, something Alexander has not been open to doing.
Insider Albert Breer revealed details about the dispute between the player and the franchise, and whether a trade is likely as teams make their final preparations for the season.
Could the Packers Still Trade CB Jaire Alexander?
At the start of the offseason, the relationship between the Packers and Alexander became strained. The franchise approached the player to propose a pay cut for 2025, but Alexander didn’t take it well, and he asked to be released. However, the Packers kept him under his current contract and began exploring trade options, though no discussions gained traction during that period.
The reason for the pay cut request stems from the fact that over the last two seasons, the cornerback has struggled with injuries and appeared in only seven games each year. Over his seven seasons with the franchise, Alexander has developed into an excellent cornerback in the NFL, but the recurring injuries have made his contract disproportionate to what he’s been producing on the field.
In 2022, Alexander signed a two-year, $84 million contract. At the time of the extension, he became the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, and today he ranks fifth on that list. A salary adjustment would allow the franchise to keep a good player on the roster while aligning his deal with his actual value after two disappointing seasons in a row.
In a column for Sports Illustrated, Breer responded to a reader about Alexander’s future with the Packers and explained that at this point, a trade is unlikely, and the player is expected to remain with the franchise for at least the 2025 season.
“At this point, teams have done the bulk of their roster building, and have spent to their cash and cap budgets, and are moving forward with their groups,” Breed wrote. “Maybe an injury somewhere creates some urgency, but as it stands, I think Alexander is stuck, and may have to play ball with the Packers.”
“I contact him every morning. I send him a positive quote. Sometimes scripture”
– Packers’ defensive pass coordinator on his relationship with Jaire Alexander pic.twitter.com/qnE5cOK5GD
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) May 16, 2025
Playing under the current contract isn’t the ideal scenario for the Packers, especially after the team asked the player to accept a pay cut. It would represent a “loss” in the standoff with Alexander, in a relationship that is unlikely to continue beyond 2026. Breer raises the possibility that a deal could still be reached to at least restructure the contract for the 2025 season.
“My guess would be that it could arrive in the form of a contract revision that moves some money into per-game roster bonuses, protecting the team against injury, with a chance to make something more than the $17.5 million if he stays healthy and plays at a really high level.”
MORE: NFL Insider Drops Major Update On Jaire Alexander’s Packers Future Amid Contract Uncertainty
In 2024, the Packers’ defense finished 10th in the PFSN Defense+ metric, playing a key role in the team’s success, even in games when Jordan Love was sidelined with injury. If Alexander can stay on the field, the unit could become even stronger and potentially turn the team into a true contender while also reviving the career of one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks.