Efforts to keep Jaire Alexander in Green Bay continue. The Packers have submitted an offer on a restructured pact to the Pro Bowl corner, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports (subscription required). 
Earlier this offseason, signs pointed to a parting of ways between team and player in this case. A trade was discussed in advance of free agency and the draft, but no agreement was reached with an interested team. Uncertainty continues to surround this situation, with the Packers interested in retaining Alexander but only at a reduced rate. Earlier this month, it was reported he would remain away from the team until a resolution – in whatever form that took – emerged.
That stance would only open the door to fines if it continued into mandatory minicamp in June. Per Schneidman, Alexander does plan to attend in advance of minicamp even if his future is still unclear at this point. With no arrangement coming about in the wake of the restructure offer, all options remain on the table at least for now. If the mutual interest in continuing this relationship cannot lead to a financial agreement, a trade or release will again come into play. The 28-year-old’s preference would be the latter move, as it would allow him to join his next team via free agency.
When healthy, Alexander has remained one of the league’s top corners during his career. The former first-rounder was limited to only four games in 2021, however, and during each of the past two campaigns he has made seven regular season appearances. That lack of availability makes his scheduled cap hits of $24.64MM in 2025 and $27.02MM in ’26 cumbersome for the Packers. A restructure would no doubt consist of reduced salaries aimed at lowering Alexander’s cap charges while also providing him with a new round of guarantees (since none of his remaining base compensation is locked in).
Releasing or trading Alexander after June 1 would be beneficial from Green Bay’s perspective in terms of its financial impacts, and the chance of that taking place will of course remain until this situation becomes clear. As today’s update illustrates, though, the Packers still intend to keep him in the fold for at least one more year.
At this point it makes no sense for packers to cut besides saving a little cap space and there’s no one to pick up and there not getting hendrickson sure he wants to be cut so he can go were he wants . Not happening restructured contract is best for both sides.
This was always the hope. But trading Jaire before free agency for other immediate assets also would have been acceptable. Cutting him (like they did Josh Sitton before Gute) was never an option.
The fins trade Ramsey and the trade a lesser asset for Jaire?
I think Asante Samuel is free agent too – some risk there too.
I think you could get Samuel fairly cheap if he passes his physical. Get him for a couple of years on a contract that will reward him if he plays a lot……similar I’m sure to the restructuring of Jaire’s contract.
This is why I don’t have a problem with guaranteed contracts in sports. Wear and tear happen and the players bear the brunt of that inevitable risk.
Yeah. I also wish all NFL contracts were 100% guaranteed for all injury.
I think that teams worry about the financial risk, but I also think that you’d see contracts amounts decrease overall over time with guaranteed deals becoming the norm. Players would probably be fine with it, as there’s less risk, and teams may eventually be fine with as there’s less negotiating for new deals and lower totals. The only people that would lose are the agents who get to use those high amounts for advertising their services.
If he doesn’t accept this restructure he’s all but getting cut.Some team with lots of cap space will take him on.
But what is worst for him is that none of his salary is payable until week one. So Green Bay could cut him literally at 12:59 PM Eastern on opening weekend.
If they did that, he’d be starting week 2 for the Vikings.
Yep. That is why they don’t want to release him. A restructured contract with playing time and statistical incentives is the best way to go. Perhaps one that can pay him more money than he’s currently owed if he excels, and cuts the rest of the deal off after 2025. If I were Jaire, I’d want to play on that and hit free agency after a great year next offseason.
Just like you mentioned, Jaire has some leverage with the threat of going to a division rival. But the Packers still have some leverage here. They can squat on him all year if they have to, and he knows it. This wouldn’t help them, but it would kill his value going forward.
Both always have been best served to get over their hard feelings and make something work out.
Packers won’t cut him. They’re swimming in cap space and acted all off-season like he’d be back. Both team and player benefit from him having a healthy season.
The restructure offer is just the normal FO/agent games. Ja himself has said he’d be at all mandatory practices.
I haven’t dove into all the contractual details, but it sounds like a game of chicken that Green Bay will lose