For Green Bay, the Jaire Alexander era is finally over. The Packers cut their two-time Pro Bowl cornerback on Monday, marking the end of a seven-year career that was full of brilliant moments and frustrating absences. A day later, General Manager Brian Gutekunst declared, “Really appreciative of what our organization, obviously was a great player. Always tough to see those guys move on, but it’s kind of part of the business. We wish him well. He’ll be missed.”
So why cut ties now? Alexander’s decline wasn’t about talent. Gutekunst pointed to availability: “I think obviously we’ve done that for the past few years and it hasn’t really worked out for us. I think as we went through it, it was just something, we looked at a lot of different angles, what might be right for the club. And this is kind of where we ended up,” he said. “But again, you know, it was no bad blood. It’s just kind of one of those things where over the last couple of years, it hasn’t worked out exactly how we wanted it to. Through no fault of anybody, just injuries kind of took some games away from him.”
A day after releasing Jaire Alexander, #Packers GM Brian Gutekunst calls him a “great player.” So why release him?
“There’s no bad blood. It’s just one of those things where over last couple years, it hasn’t worked out exactly how we wanted it to through no fault of anybody.” pic.twitter.com/TesdCERxUX
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) June 10, 2025
The 2018 first-round pick was one of the best cover corners in the league when healthy. And as a result, he received a four-year, $84 million extension from the Packers in 2022. But health was rarely on his side. During the last two seasons, he missed 20 games, including the last eight of 2024. The decision came after offseason attempts to restructure his deal reportedly failed. The release, which occurred right before mandatory minicamp, was unavoidable since no trade partner surfaced during the NFL Draft.
As for Alexander, a 28-year-old free agent, he will have suitors like Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings, but probably not at the $16.15 million base contract that Green Bay had previously promised. It’s a bittersweet conclusion for the Packers to a collaboration that once promised a lockdown legacy.
The post Packers GM Issues First Public Statement on Jaire Alexander Release as Kevin O’Connell Eyes Outcast CB appeared first on EssentiallySports.