The Green Bay Packers recently made a tough but ultimately reasonable decision by releasing cornerback Jaire Alexander, ending his seven-year run with the team. This move surprised fans, especially since the team didn’t strengthen the cornerback position in the draft. Now, a former seventh-round pick is expected to step into Alexander’s role, raising concerns about the defense’s depth and effectiveness.
Though the situation was poorly handled and left many fans frustrated, there’s a financial logic behind it. Alexander has struggled with injuries, missing a significant number of games in three of the past four seasons. Continuing to pay a high salary to a player who isn’t consistently on the field would have been risky. So, the team decided to cut ties and absorb the full \$17.04 million dead cap hit this year rather than stretch it out over multiple seasons. This approach allows the team to clear his contract entirely after this season, creating cap space to address other needs in the future.
While the timing and lack of preparation on the roster might make this decision look hasty, the long-term benefits could prove worthwhile. The Packers will be free of Alexander’s contract after this season, giving them room to sign impact players in positions of need. It’s disappointing that injuries cut short what started as a promising career with the team, but the Packers did get several strong seasons from him early on. Ultimately, this move reflects the tough decisions NFL teams must make to stay competitive.
