A bombshell was dropped on the NFL world on Monday when league insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Green Bay Packers were releasing two-time All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander.
“The #Packers are releasing star CB Jaire Alexander today, sources say,” Rapoport wrote on his official X account. “The #Packers and Jaire Alexander agreed to explore a potential trade this spring, while a restructured contract was also discussed. In the end, Green Bay and Alexander move on with a clean break.”
The question for the Buccaneers is obvious. Would Alexander fit in a Tampa Bay secondary that needs to show drastic improvement from last season?
The answer is simple ... and complicated.
The Bucs spent their second- and third-round draft picks on cornerbacks. Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish are expected to be contributors next season. But will they have the same impact that a two-time Pro Bowl veteran would have? Probably not.
Alexander is just 28 and still has a lot of football left in him. His departure from the Packers wasn't performance-related, but due to a hefty $25 million cap hit for 2025.
The former Louisville Cardinals defender has dealt with injuries recently, however. Over the past two years, Alexander has played in just 14 total regular-season games due to numerous injuries, including groin, back, shoulder and knee issues. He missed the Packers' final eight games of 2024, including their Wild Card round loss to the Eagles.
When he's been healthy, Alexander has been one of the best at his position. Across seven playoff games, he's posted 28 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups.