It seems unlikely that Jaire Alexander will remain with the Green Bay Packers by the start of the regular season. However, if quarterback Jordan Love had a say, the former All-Pro cornerback would stay much longer. In a conversation with Kay Adams, Love shared his thoughts on Alexander’s significance to the team. “I need to reach out to Ja and find out what’s happening.
Ja’s got his own thing going on. I’m going to let him handle his business and see what’s up. But that’s my guy,” Love mentioned on the Up and Adams Show. “He’s a crucial player for us. His play style and presence on the field are invaluable. We have to keep him around, so let’s see how things unfold.”
Beyond his on-field contributions, Love emphasized Jaire’s influence as a team leader. “In the locker room, he’s quite a character. You never know what to expect with Ja. He interacts with everyone and has a fun side, but he’s also very serious and competitive,” Love continued. “Losing the player he is on the field would be significant. I’m hopeful Ja sticks around with us. We’ll see, but that’s my guy.”
Why the Packers are looking at other options
Even though Jordan Love makes a valid point about Alexander’s impact, general manager Brian Gutekunst has other considerations. Firstly, the cornerback has missed 34 out of the last 68 games due to various injuries.
Additionally, Alexander is set to earn $17.5 million in 2025 and $19.5 million in 2026, with none of it guaranteed. Ideally, the Packers aim to trade him to gain some form of compensation. “We’ve invested a lot in Jaire and want to ensure we get something back if he’s not contributing to our victories,” Gutekunst explained. “We’ll see what happens.”
Jaire Alexander was Gutekunst’s initial draft pick as general manager in 2018. This decision isn’t easy, as it would make cornerback an even more urgent need in the draft. But the mix of financial factors and his lack of availability complicates the matter significantly.