GREEN BAY, Wis. — They may have only spent seven games on the field together last season, but that hasn't stopped Xavier McKinney and Jaire Alexander from developing a bond both inside of the facility and out of it.
Seven measly games doesn't account for the amount of time they've spent together on the practice field, in the film room or bonding away from Lambeau Field. What was supposed to be one of the league's top safety and cornerback tandems last season didn't materialize in the way that the Green Bay Packers may have hoped, but if Alexander returns to the team in 2025, there may be opportunity ahead for redemption.
Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams and Jaire Alexander celebrate an interception against the Tennessee Titans. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
McKinney isn't going anywhere, that's for certain—after signing a four-year deal worth $67 million dollars with the Packers last spring, he met their lucrative generosity with a First-team All-Pro season and cemented himself as one of the best safeties in the league, if not the best.
When Alexander is on the field, he's among the best at his position, too. However, those instances are becoming few and far between.
"We'd all like him back," McKinney said after Wednesday's practice, according to The Athletic. "I talk to him every day, pretty much just try to stay connected with him. We've developed a great relationship with each other."
Xavier McKinney says he talks to Jaire Alexander every day and “we all want him back.” He has become close friends with him off the field so ultimately wants what’s best for him. pic.twitter.com/ajydnmX2JP
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) May 28, 2025
The saga between Alexander and the Packers has seemingly been never-ending. When players cleaned out their lockers at the end of the season in January following another playoff defeat, Alexander wasn't even sure whether or not he'd be back in Green Bay and everything that has transpired over the offseason has reflected that. General manager Brian Gutekunst appeared adamant that he wanted to trade Alexander, but after mulling over some offers that he received during the free agency period and leading into the draft and ultimately deciding against them, Alexander's future is still in limbo.
The Packers issued a revised contract offer to Alexander this past week that presumably better reflects his availability—or lack thereof. The 28-year-old former All-Pro is set to earn $16.5 million dollars in base salary if he's on the Packers' roster at the start of the regular season. If the Packers were to outright release him, they'd create roughly $7 million dollars in cap space, but matters between both sides would have to completely fall apart before even reaching that point. It makes the most sense for both the Packers and Alexander to reconcile their differences and traverse into the future together, but Alexander's agent, John Thornton, won't allow his client to be low-balled with an offer that he doesn't feel is suitable.
"That's his own situation and I want the best for him," McKinney said. "At the end of the day, I'll be behind him regardless of what situation is going on. We've developed a relationship off the field to where it's like, I just want the best for you and I'm gonna be there regardless.
"I've been vocal about that with him. We're good friends. We all want him here, but, however that situation plays out, that's how it plays out. I just want whatever's best for him."
(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
Alexander was one of five players not present at Wednesday's practice, which marked the first session open to reporters. He's expected to report to mandatory minicamp on June 10, with or without a restructured deal.
Since sustaining a shoulder injury in 2021, Alexander has missed 34 of the Packers' last 68 games—or exactly half—and he's played in just seven games each of the last two seasons. His durability has become a major concern and it's fair to suspect that none of this would even be a conversation if he was simply able to stay upright.
The only two additions the Packers made to their cornerback room this spring was the acquisition of Nate Hobbs with a four-year, $48 million dollar contract and a seventh-round pick that was spent on Tulane's Micah Robinson. There's still a place for Alexander if he does choose to return to the lineup, albeit after some shuffling. Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Hobbs are projected to be the Packers' three primary cornerbacks with Javon Bullard, a second-round pick last spring, expected to compete once again for the starting nickelback job.
On Wednesday, Bullard didn't participate in practice. The Packers' base defense saw Valentine and Nixon on the perimeter with the newly signed Hobbs in the slot. Gregory Junior, a former sixth-round pick who was signed on May 21, also saw some opportunities with the first-team defense.
Zachary Jacobson is the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report. He is entering his 11th season covering theGreen Bay Packers. He is a member of thePro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter@zacobson or contact him via email atitszachariahj@gmail.com