Jordan Love didn’t hold back his feelings about Jaire Alexander’s departure from the Green Bay Packers. Describing Alexander as a “player we need back,” Love’s sentiment is more than just lip service; it underscores the emotional and tactical blow the Packers face after releasing their star cornerback.
In the relentless reality of the NFL, often dubbed “Not For Long,” the Packers’ decision to part ways with Alexander is both a strategic and emotional crossroads. Alexander, a former first-round pick and All-Pro, found himself a casualty of the salary cap puzzle after missing half of the Packers’ games since 2021. General manager Brian Gutekunst’s explanation was straightforward: keeping Alexander on his hefty contract just wasn’t feasible.
Yet, understanding the decision doesn’t make it any less painful. Love, reflecting on the separation, shared, “It’s a tough one, really tough losing a player of Jaire’s caliber. Someone that has been here since I got here, someone I was very close with. It’s definitely tough. That’s how the NFL goes. Tough decisions are made, and it’s all about how we move on and grow from that.” Clearly, Love carried a deep admiration and fondness for Alexander, emphasizing, “I’ve got nothing but love for Jaire.”
For the Packers, moving on was necessary, despite their efforts to renegotiate Alexander’s deal. The lack of preemptive action now leaves their Super Bowl ambitions in jeopardy, having lost a key defensive asset without having a robust Plan B.
Certainly, adding Nate Hobbs to the roster is a step in the right direction. Versatile enough to play across the secondary, Hobbs brings potential value, but he’s not a one-to-one replacement for Alexander’s star power. And with the exits of players like Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine, and Robert Rochell, the depth chart needs serious reinforcement at corner.
Since the 2023 season’s commencement, Green Bay’s record tells a story: they’ve gone 10-4 when Alexander was on the field, compared to an even 10-10 without him. This stat highlights the void Alexander’s departure creates — a void that the Packers haven’t adequately filled.
Aiming to strike gold in the seventh round of the draft seems like a gamble when elite cornerback prospects were available earlier. Names like Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and Kamari Lassiter were bypassed, while trade opportunities for players like Quinyon Mitchell and Terrion Arnold remained untapped.
Even now, speculative moves — such as a trade for Jalen Ramsey or signing veterans like Asante Samuel Jr. or Stephon Gilmore — appear improbable given the current landscape. The Packers are now left to improvise without Alexander, whose presence, when healthy, was unrivaled.
Love’s reaction to this turn of events was as expected as it was sincere, reflecting both personal loss and the collective challenge the Packers face in striving to remain contenders in a post-Alexander era.
