BREAKING: Packers Are About To Show Their Missing Piece the Door

Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch (USA TODAY Sports)

I’m old enough to remember when the Green Bay Packers charged Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face a top-ranked Atlanta Falcons offense in the NFC Championship game, with nobody to hold back superstar receiver Julio Jones except for Ladarius Gunter and his 4.7-second 40 time.

The game went as expected. The Packers allowed 44 points in another crucial playoff contest in which Aaron Rodgers and the offense never had a pulse. Jones went for nine catches, 180 yards, and two touchdowns.

In response, the front office drafted a cornerback with their first selection in the 2017 draft. His name was Kevin King and, frankly, the story of his tenure in Green Bay was that he had a heavy hand in costing the Packers the NFC Championship in 2020.

Enter Jaire Alexander.

When Ted Thompson stepped down, the Packers hired Brian Gutekunst to replace him. Gutekunst took over ahead of the 2018 draft, where he immediately showcased his shrewd dealing skills, moving down the board for an additional 2019 first-rounder from the New Orleans Saints before sliding back up to select a speedy, flamboyant cornerback out of Louisville.

With King and Alexander, the Packers had doubled up at a premium position that had bedeviled them for years.

King quickly fizzled out, but Alexander became a household name. He flashed his upside as a rookie and has played a dominant career in Green Bay that includes multiple signature playoff performances and a couple of seasons of pure dominance. He was the missing piece that gave Green Bay a respectable pass defense, even as the safety position remained in flux.

Injuries, particularly over the past few seasons, have sent the team scrambling at a premium position. With fellow first-rounder Eric Stokes struggling to make a smooth return from his series of ailments and Keisean Nixon continuing to show limitations as a cover corner, the likes of 2023 seventh-rounder Carrington Valentine have been tasked with lining up opposite some of the league’s top wideouts.

Since last season, Alexander’s situation has had a vague, eerie feeling attached to it. Last season, he was suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team, but he rebounded soundly and ostensibly took on a greater leadership role. However, speculation about his long-term future began to percolate once again as he continued to be ruled out for important contests late last season, including the playoff game in Philadelphia.

Eventually, we learned that the 27-year-old underwent surgery on a torn PCL he sustained in Week 8 and initially attempted to play through. Regardless, the vibes around his future in Green Bay are not great. On a podcast appearance, Matt LaFleur rattled off a long list of players he views as important locker room voices. Alexander was noticeably absent.

With two years left on his four-year, $84 million contract, a trade or cut feels like the most plausible outcome. His status as a lockdown corner has atrophied enough to where Gutekunst is unlikely to feel inclined to strong-arm him into staying.

The Packers pride themselves on a smooth operation, and Alexander’s personality has always felt somewhat out of place. Many welcomed it at the peak of his success, feeling that the defense needed some personality. Now, much of the fanbase and media have begun to feel differently. Alexander’s comments after the season concluded in Philadelphia — that he wasn’t going to talk because he didn’t have anything good to say — only fueled the divorce rumors.

The question then becomes: How do the Packers approach a full rebuild at a premium position? Gutekunst is openly expecting a leap to championship contention in Jordan Love‘s third year under center. It only becomes more complicated when a key part of any potential solution, a clear No. 1 corner, is already in the building, even if he has one foot out in spirit.

The free-agent market is relatively intriguing, with options ranging from Charvarius Ward and D.J. Reed to familiar veterans like Rasul Douglas. For good measure, it feels likely that the Packers will celebrate the 2025 draft coming to Green Bay by welcoming a new young cornerback, with or without Alexander on the roster. Travis Hunter and Will Johnson, the ubiquitous top cover corners on the board, will be long gone, but expect Gutekunst to get in his bag and try to land his next Jaire Alexander later in the first round.