The Green Bay Packers continued to show promise for a young team. While they struggled against the top competition in the NFC, they still made the playoffs for the second year in a row with quarterback Jordan Love. The biggest change this season was the defense. First-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley made drastic improvements to the defense, making it one of the better units in the league throughout the year. Jaire Alexander has been one of the best players on the defense since 2018, but in the past few years, he has struggled to stay on the field. According to sources, the Packers are looking to trade their former first-round pick.
Green Bay Packers Looking To Trade Jaire Alexander
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the Green Bay Packers have begun to shop the two-time Pro Bowler. Jaire Alexander still has two years and $37 million remaining on his deal. When he is on the field, he is an elite lockdown cornerback. In 2022, he played in 16 games and had 56 tackles, 14 passes defended, and five interceptions. During his first three years in the league, he was one of the best cornerbacks in the league, and the Packers rewarded him with a big contract.
Injuries have marred the past few years. He has only played in seven games in each of the past two seasons. Over the past four seasons, he has missed half of the games. The Green Bay Packers may still believe in his abilities but have grown frustrated with his inability to stay on the field. Reports surfaced last week that the team was frustrated with Alexander’s ability to play through injury. Furthermore, he has had issues with following team rules in the past few seasons. The team is looking to move him, but what can they get?
What Is Alexander’s Worth?
It’s easy to look at a player like Jaire Alexander and think the Green Bay Packers will get a premium package back. He is only 28 years old, the age many players are in the prime of their careers. The former Louisville product has shown he can be a clear CB1, taking out the opposing team’s top target. The issue comes with the injury history. Teams don’t want to give up a premium package if he will never see the field or be limited to half the season every year.
If they do find a team, a day-three pick is the most likely compensation. This offloads a big contract for the Packers, and they don’t have to deal with the situation anymore. The receiving team would get the potential upside without giving up a lot. Most teams would take the risk of giving up a day-three pick for the chance at getting an All-Pro corner. A day-three pick might not seem like a lot, but GM Brian Gutekunst has shown an ability to find talent anywhere. Evan Williams, Dontayvion Wicks, Karl Brooks, Carrington Valentine, Romeo Doubs, Zach Tom, and Rasheed Walker are all day-three picks that have played significant roles for this team.
Final Thoughts
The Green Bay Packers need some help in their secondary. If they do end up moving on from Jaire Alexander, look for the team to try and find some help in the secondary, either in free agency or in the draft. In sports, sometimes a change of scenery is needed for both sides. This seems like one of those situations. Both sides would benefit from a fresh start, and it will be interesting to see what teams are interested.
