Jaire Alexander’s 6 best NFL landing spots after release by Packers

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

These six teams should pick up the phone ASAP.

It’s a very weird time in the NFL calendar, and it just got a whole lot more bizarre with the news that the Green Bay Packers are releasing All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander. While the two sides have been butting heads in recent months, it’s stunning the team couldn’t find a trade partner — even to get some modest return.

Alexander was set to have a salary cap hit of $24.6M this season as part of the contract extension he signed in 2022, but considering this was a post-June 1 release he will now only count as $7.5M, freeing up roughly $17M in cap space. This could allow Green Bay to make a play for a replacement (Jalen Ramsey?), or simply prepare for 2026 with a boatload of cash.

The sticking point between Alexander and the Packers has been a series of annoying injuries which has kept him sidelined for the majority of the last two years. The cornerback was named to the second All-Pro team in 2020 and 2022, but has only suited up for 14 games over the last two years. Sidelined with back, shoulder, quadricep, and knee injuries — it’s been a seemingly endless string for missed games for Alexander who butted heads with team officials in 2023 when he interjected himself in the coin toss for a contest with the Carolina Panthers, leading to him being suspended by the team.

Alexander and the Packers had reportedly been trying to re-work his contract to remove some of the guaranteed money in the deal, and convert salary to incentive-based clauses in an effort to account for his injuries. That didn’t come to pass, and now Alexander is looking for a new team.

In spite of the injuries, it shouldn’t be a long wait. Cornerbacks the caliber of Jaire Alexander don’t come along very often, especially as free agents before training camp — and that could lead to these teams making a call to his agent.

Detroit Lions

Do the Lions explicitly need a cornerback? Not really, but when you’re a contender with the amount of cap space the Lions have they should be in on everyone.

Detroit are in a really nice position where they could sign Alexander to a high-incentive deal that would give them a ludicrous DB room with Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, and Jaire Alexander — plus is would be a serious middle finger to the Packers by inking one of their best defensive players.

Even if you assume Alexander might only give you 7-to-10 games this season it’s worth throwing a dart and seeing if it sticks.

Minnesota Vikings

Let’s stick in the NFC North and throw another team in who are in dire need of help at cornerback. The Vikings stunningly decided not to address the position in the 2025 NFL Draft, and have massive problems at the position considering how pass-happy to division is.

There’s been some speculation that the Vikings could be in on a Jalen Ramsey trade if it emerged, but as that drags out a more realistic scenario for them might be ponying up the money for Alexander and giving him a short relocation.

This is a dire need for Minnesota this season. A lack of consistent playing time could be a sticking point, but the Vikings CB room is so lacking this might be a move that needs to happen.

New York Jets

Brandon Stephens as a starting cornerback just ain’t it. There’s very much the feeling that this team is solely looking for a warm body to put across from Sauce Gardner and hope that’s enough, but this shouldn’t prevent the Jets from looking for a big time upgrade considering the cap space they have.

I like this fit because I think Aaron Glenn could get a lot out of Alexander. He’s the exact kind of motivating players’ coach who can inspire Alexander and get him back to playing his best football. Obviously you can’t control injuries, but in every other aspect this could be a good get, and fill a major need.

Philadelphia Eagles

Never doubt the allure of playing for the champion. Here’s the thing: Philly does not need a cornerback. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are both fantastic, and Kelee Ringo showed big-time promise. That said, Ringo only played 113 snaps last season in a rotational role, and it’s highly possible he doesn’t have it to be an every-down outside corner.

Alexander would be one hell of an insurance policy in case Ringo isn’t an every-down guy, and could also open some rotation at the position to create different looks. It would be a very Eagles move to land Alexander on a cheap, incentive-laden deal to showcase him for free agency.

Las Vegas Raiders

Can you name the starting cornerbacks for the Raiders? Can you name one starting cornerback for the Raiders? If you managed to say Jakorian Bennett and Eric Stokes then you win. Your prize is two terrible cornerbacks.

Neither Bennett nor Stokes are starting-caliber talents in the NFL. On most teams they’d be 3rd and 4th options at best. There’s a dire need to get better in a hurry and start off the Pete Carroll era on the right foot, which means looking for every upgrade possible at every position imaginable.

Los Angeles Rams

There’s part of me that still fully expects the Rams to fill their need at CB by ending up with Jalen Ramsey, either via trade or waiting for the Dolphins to release him — but Alexander would be a totally serviceable backup plan if that doesn’t emerge.

Getting an upgrade at corner has been an obvious need for Los Angeles all offseason, and at this moment they’re still set to enter the season with Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon on the outside, and that’s ugly.

Familiarity still makes Ramsey the most obvious answer here, but if the Dolphins are playing hardball or this drags out too long then Alexander would be a good option.