Jaire Alexander has been launched by the Inexperienced Bay Packers, ending a seven-year run through which he emerged as one of many NFL’s high cornerbacks earlier than accidents restricted his availability.
The Packers introduced the transfer Monday, a day earlier than they open their obligatory minicamp. The choice is anticipated to clear about $17 million in cap house.
“In his seven seasons with the Packers, Jaire established himself as one of many premier gamers within the NFL at one of many sport’s most difficult positions,” Packers common supervisor Brian Gutekunst mentioned in an announcement. “His contributions to our group had been felt on the sector, within the locker room and in our neighborhood, and he will likely be missed. We admire all he gave, and we want him all the most effective transferring ahead.”
Alexander’s future with the Packers had been the topic of a lot hypothesis all through the offseason due to his hefty contract and up to date damage historical past. Alexander, who has 12 interceptions, had two years remaining on the four-year, $84 million contract extension he signed in Might 2022.
The 28-year-old Alexander has spent his total profession with the Packers, who chosen him out of Louisville with the 18th general decide within the 2018 draft. Alexander made Professional Bowls in 2020 and 2022, however he has performed in solely 34 of the Packers’ 68 regular-season video games over the previous 4 years.
Alexander missed two early season video games final season with accidents to his quadriceps and groin. He then missed a Nov. 3 loss to Detroit with a knee damage, returned to play 10 snaps within the Packers’ subsequent sport towards Chicago after which was out for the remainder of the season.
His unavailability for a lot of the previous few seasons has the Packers believing they will transfer ahead with out the participant who had remained their finest cornerback when wholesome. Inexperienced Bay’s cornerback room additionally has misplaced 2021 first-round decide Eric Stokes, who had his personal damage points with the Packers earlier than signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in March.
The Packers return Keisean Nixon, a two-time All-Professional kickoff returner who has develop into extra of an element on protection the previous couple of seasons whereas Alexander has struggled with accidents. Carrington Valentine, a 2023 seventh-round decide, has began 19 video games over the previous two seasons. The Packers additionally added former Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs in free company and drafted Micah Robinson out of Tulane within the seventh spherical.
Alexander was so efficient early in his profession that the Packers signed him to that massive contract with a $30 million signing bonus even after a shoulder damage had restricted him to 4 regular-season video games in 2021. Alexander had returned for the Packers’ NFC divisional playoff loss to San Francisco throughout that 2021 season.
However the accidents stored coming.
He began 16 video games and had a career-high 5 interceptions in 2022, however performed simply seven regular-season video games every of the previous two years. Alexander has remained efficient in move protection when obtainable.
The video games he missed had been due to damage with one exception. Alexander received suspended for a late-season sport in 2023 due to conduct detrimental to the crew after he appointed himself captain and took part within the coin toss for a Christmas Eve win at Carolina, his hometown.
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