BREAKING: Packers mailbag: Pete Dougherty answers questions about Jaire Alexander’s status

Green Bay Press-Gazette and PackersNews columnist Pete Dougherty responds to reader questions about the Green Bay Packers ahead of the 2025 NFL draft.

Here are excerpts from the full mailbag. To read the full chat, click here.

Jeff Delvaux:Jalen Ramsey is now on the trading block, according to Dolphins GM Chris Grier. What do you think it would take in draft capital and would Jaire Alexander be a possible package deal with draft pick(s) be feasible? 

Pete Dougherty: Ramsey is a once-great player who turns 31 in October and is due $21 million this season (he’s already been paid a $4 million roster bonus). That’s a lot of money and cap space for a cornerback his age. I wouldn’t have any interest in paying him that if I were the Packers, even if the Dolphins offered to give him to me. 

But Ramsey’s pay this year is fully guaranteed, so the Dolphins will have to pay him if they don’t trade him. That means they’re probably going to end up paying some and perhaps much of his salary for whatever team they trade him to. Would they pay enough to make it worthwhile for the Packers? I’m guessing not. If I’m the Packers, I’d be more inclined to rebuild the cornerback position with youth than bring in a stopgap, old player such as Ramsey. The trade compensation (i.e., the draft pick traded for him) would have to be light, as in, like, a seventh-rounder because it could end up being a one-year rental. And the Dolphins would have to pick up a big chunk of the salary. More than I’m guessing they’d be willing to pay for a D7.

I don’t see a Ramsey-for-Alexander trade as attractive for Miami either. Alexander will make $17.5 million in salary and bonuses this year, and $19.5 million next year. So they’d have to pay part of Ramsey’s salary, presumably, plus Alexander’s. Can’t see them doing that for Alexander, who’s missed half the games the past four years combined.

I don’t know what the Dolphins might get for Ramsey, but it almost surely will be a pick, not a player. The more of his salary they pay, the better the pick. My guess is they’ll end up getting something like a fifth- or sixth-rounder at best. 

Dave:  I’m thinking (Brian Gutekunst) wants to save face and get something with more value/perception value for Jaire. My guess is he’ll target an AFC team and offer Jaire plus a 6th for a low 3rd or 4th. Is that wishful thinking on my part? 

Pete Dougherty: I think it’s less about saving face and more about trying to get something, anything for a player who’s talented but injury prone. GMs prize draft picks, even late-rounders. 

But to your main point, yeah, my guess is that’s wishful thinking on your part. The issue with trading Alexander is the contract. That’s a lot for a guy who has missed half the games the last four seasons combined, even if he remains a good and talented player when he’s on the field. 

As our Tom Silverstein reported this week, teams have shown trade interest in Alexander but the Packers do not appear to be close to a deal with anyone at this point. Tom reported that one sticking point has been Alexander’s unwillingness to renegotiate his contract with a new team. He has no incentive to do so. He can say, trade me at full pay or cut me and I’ll take my chances on the open market, at least then I’ll get to go to a team of my choosing. That’s what any of us would do in his shoes. 

I remain skeptical that any team is going to trade for his contract and think the Packers will end up having to cut him. But the Packers’ waiting suggests they think there’s still a real chance they can get something for him.