It’s time to trade Jaire Alexander
By: Austin Roth
The Green Bay Packers need to trade Jaire Alexander, I know a lot of Packer fans don’t like to hear it including myself but all recent data suggests it’s about dang time to make it happen. While Alexander is undeniably talented, he has undoubtedly gotten the injury bug, over his 7 year career there were ups, and were they oh so good, but there were also many times that the Packers were in desperate need for their Star and he wasn’t available. With a regular season games played rate of just 67.24% from 2018 to 2024, that’s 78 out of 116 possible games. Compared to other top NFL cornerbacks, Alexander’s lack of being available and the top of his position contract has posed risks that outweigh his on field success. Trading him now could put the Packers in a much more comfy spot with cap relief and assets to solidify their secondary.
Alexander’s 67.24% participation rate caught my attention first, after I saw a post about his 7 seasons played while allowing only 19 touchdowns, I, as a Packers fan, knew that’s not the whole story. The participation rate for Alexander is quite lower than peers like Denzel Ward (82.76%), Marshon Lattimore (73.28%), and Jalen Ramsey (70.69%), with Sauce Gardner with a perfect 100% in his 3 seasons since 2022. Alexander’s on field ability is affected heavily by his hospital visits, including a shoulder injury in 2021 (4 games played), a back and shoulder injury in 2023 (7 games), and a torn PCL in 2024 (7 games, ending with surgery). Additionally, a one game suspension in 2023 for a coin toss incident that took him off the field without hurting himself. While Alexander’s is elite when he can be healthy with a 91.9 PFF coverage grade from 2020-2022, the best among cornerbacks, the past few years tell a different story.
Cornerbacks like Ward and Ramsey have maintained higher availability despite their own injury challenges, and Gardner’s durability shows the premium you’d need to pay placed on consistent presence. Even Kyle Fuller, whose 67.24% matches Alexander’s, saw his participation dip due to a lesser role rather than injuries, reducing the risk you would take to trade for Alexander, because you’re still getting an elite player. The Packers secondary has definitely showed they can survive without Jaire, with players like Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine stepping up huge, allowing the team to continue showing that they are still big game hunters in this league with a 11–6 record and playoff berth in 2024.
Financially, Alexander’s contract puts a massive dent in the Packers cap space. His $24.64 million cap hit in 2025, joined with a $16.15 million base salary, is the second highest among cornerbacks, and his $37 million over the next two years has no guaranteed money, which is good, making a trade possible but not as easy as it may seem. Trading him before June 1, 2025, would make $18.1 million in dead cap but save $6.8 million, while a post June 1 trade or release could save $17.1 million, spread across 2025 and 2026. But again his ability to be on the field has made some hesitation to make a trade easy, but teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, or Kansas City Chiefs, with cap space and secondary needs, could be looking for an All Star cornerback. However, Alexander’s reluctance to restructure his contract complicates negotiations, as reported by sources indicating at least one team backed out due to his unwillingness to adjust terms. So obviously Jaire wants his money, so does everyone else in the league. Sometimes the facts just don’t show that you’re worth it.
The Packers have options to replace Alexander, with Nixon and Valentine showing promise and the addition of Nate Hobbs, who allowed a 42.9% completion rate in 2024. The draft also brought in new talent with massive promise, including later round pick like Micah Robinson, and free agency targets like Charvarius Ward, easing the dependency for Alexander to be on the field. General Manager Brian Gutekunst is not committed to solidifying Alexander’s future as a Packer. Recent trade talks also show that something could be brewing in northern Wisconsin. Trading Alexander can bring all the goodies the packers are in need of, draft picks, players that fill in other gaps in the roster, more depth at cornerback or linebacker, while freeing cap for a team that is in the hardest division in the NFL and looking to stay on top of that division for years to come.
Alexander’s talent is undeniable, but his chance for injury is unavoidable and high cost has made him a risky investment. With a capable secondary and financial flexibility, the Packers before they get too far into the offseason, they should capitalize on his trade value as soon as possible, avoiding the big “what if” pile of past stars in the NFL. Get it done
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