If there were any uncertainties regarding how the Green Bay Packers will manage the Jaire Alexander situation, they have now been dispelled. Unless something completely unexpected occurs in the upcoming weeks or months, the former All-Pro cornerback has likely played his final game for the team that drafted him seven years ago.

During his pre-draft press conference, general manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t make the situation any clearer, at least not deliberately. Yet, his subtle hints about the matter are evident to those who can read between the lines. “We’ll work through that, I don’t have updates on Jaire. He’s obviously on our roster right now,” Gutekunst remarked. “We’ll see how the draft goes and see where we’re at at that point.” The phrase “he’s on our roster right now” is a typical response for when a player is unlikely to remain on the roster much longer.

It’s understandable for Gutekunst to be discreet, aiming to secure some form of compensation and prevent Alexander from signing with another NFC North rival. Any additional draft pick is more favorable than nothing. When Gutekunst mentioned waiting to see how the draft unfolds, it seems more like he’s anticipating interested teams missing out on rookie cornerbacks than an actual need for Jaire on his own squad.

The reality is that NFL executives don’t behave this way when they plan to retain players. Make no mistake, general managers often withhold the truth—it’s part of their role to avoid giving rival teams genuine insights into their strategies. However, they typically don’t express willingness to trade players or openly discuss their situations if the primary aim is retention. The Packers never publicly indicated they were open to trading Davante Adams or Rasul Douglas, for example. But when a team announces its readiness to part ways with a player, he seldom remains on the roster.

The reasons for moving on For Jaire and the Packers, it’s the culmination of several factors. Injuries play a significant role, as Alexander has missed half the games over the past four years. Financial considerations also weigh heavily. The cornerback is set to earn $17.5 million this season and $19.5 million the next, but none of it is guaranteed.

The Packers face certain financial limitations, with less than $26 million in projected cap space for 2026—and only 29 players under contract, before even accounting for extensions like Zach Tom. If the Packers cut or trade Jaire Alexander immediately, it results in $17.04 million in dead money, while freeing up $7.593 million in cap space in 2025. More importantly, it clears $27.018 million next year and $2.005 million in 2027.

If the Packers decide to keep Jaire for this season without adjusting his contract, the cap hit is $24.636 million. Releasing him next offseason would decrease the 2026 cap savings from $27.018 million to $17.494 million. While it’s acceptable to pay that difference for a prime Jaire Alexander, the Packers cannot predict that outcome in advance. A decision needs to be made by the start of Week 1 at the latest, and the plan clearly doesn’t involve waiting until it’s too late to explore other options.