The Green Bay Packers made waves this week by releasing cornerback Jaire Alexander and opting to take the full brunt of his $17.04 million dead cap hit on their 2025 salary cap. Despite initial assumptions that the team would spread the hit over two seasons as a post-June 1 cut, the final decision bucks conventional cap strategies.
“Over the last four years, there’s been a lot of games missed,” noted General Manager Brian Gutekunst, highlighting the rationale behind the choice. With a litany of injuries racking up over Alexander's tenure — including shoulder and knee issues — the Packers found it increasingly untenable to justify such a significant salary for limited on-field contributions.
Alexander’s past two seasons have been marred by health challenges, having played in only 14 regular-season games. In the 2023 season alone, injuries along with a suspension restricted his participation to just seven games. In total, Alexander missed 38 games across his seven-year stint with Green Bay, playing under 32 percent of the defensive snaps in three of the last four seasons.
The Packers attempted to negotiate a contract restructuring and entertained interest from other teams, notably the Buffalo Bills, but Alexander’s reluctance to compromise on his salary led to this week's resolution. “I think, obviously, we’ve done that the past few years and it hasn’t really worked out for us,” Gutekunst remarked. The decision, he insists, was devoid of animosity, coming down to strategic redirection after continual setbacks.
As the team maneuvers through this transition, the Packers' front office aims to redefine their defensive strategy while managing future financial flexibility.
