The Green Bay Packers released two-time Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro Jaire Alexander on Monday, ending a seven-year relationship between player and team and allowing the veteran cornerback to pick his next team as a free agent.
The Packers freely admit Alexander is a great player when available, but injuries and missed time — combined with his contract over the next two seasons — were the primary reasons why he’s no longer in Green Bay.
The next question: Where will Alexander land? While his injury history is a concern, Alexander is still a 28-year-old player with a decorated history of elite play at a premium position, and several teams should be interested.
A trade was preferred by the Packers both for compensation in return and deciding Alexander’s next team. Now, the player will get a chance to pick where he goes, and it’s possible Alexander will land with a division or conference rival.
What would be the most undesirable landing spot for Alexander from the Packers point of view? Here are our picks:
Zach Kruse: Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have won three of the last four games against the Packers, are coming off a 14-win season and possess one of the most talented and experienced rosters in football around first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Adding Alexander — another former Packer — would give defensive coordinator Brian Flores a potential lockdown corner and more freedom to call more of his exotic and chaotic blitzes. No one in Green Bay wants Aaron Jones and Alexander on the same roster just across state lines. The Packers will hope Alexander gets out of the NFC North and out of the conference entirely.
Brandon Carwile: Philadelphia Eagles
Any NFC North team is a good answer, but the Philadelphia Eagles are also an annoying possibility. After parting ways with Darius Slay this offseason, the Eagles might be looking to add a veteran to shore up their young cornerback room. Alexander joining forces with the defending Super Bowl champs, who happened to beat the Packers in Week 1 and then ended their season in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, would be a gut punch. However, it’s exactly the kind of move general manager Howie Roseman is known for making.
Brennen Rupp: Minnesota Vikings
Jaire Alexander was a fan favorite for a lot of Green Bay fans. When he was healthy (2022) he was one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Since that season he played in just 14 games and the Packers needed to cut ties. I don’t have a lot of faith that he’ll be able to stay on the field for whatever team lands him, but it would be difficult to watch him stay healthy and put together an All-Pro caliber season for a division rival that has a need for a player like Alexander.
Mark Oldacres: Detroit Lions
Alexander joining any NFC North rival, as spurned Packers tend to do, would be the worst-case scenario, but the Lions in particular would be the most irritating. The division champions the last two years have encountered some adversity this offseason, losing both coordinators. Top spot in the North looks to be there for the taking in 2025, but adding Alexander could help the Lions hold onto their crown.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers: Most undesirable landing spot for released CB Jaire Alexander