It's common for coaches to bring some of their guys when they land with a new team. That could be the case for Anthony Campanile, who became the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He could ask the Jags to sign players who suited up for him as the Green Bay linebackers coach or even make a trade for one of their defensive stalwarts.
The Bleacher Report scouting department recently put together an offseason trade guide for every team and suggests Jacksonville targets Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, citing his connection with Campanile as one of the reasons and the Jags' need at the position.
"There's a decent amount of risk that comes with acquiring Alexander, but the Jags are in a position where they might need to take some risks. They have enough cap space to get aggressive, and they have to make up some ground on the Texans within the division. If Alexander can return to form this trade would be a bargain.
Campanile only spent one season in Green Bay, but he should have some insight into whether Alexander can return to form. That relationship could potentially push this deal over the edge and give them a starting corner duo of Alexander and Tyson Campbell next season."
A first-round pick in the 2018 draft, Jaire Alexander has spent his whole career in Green Bay, appearing in 78 with 76 starts. Just a few years ago, he was considered one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL.
However, injuries have forced the two-time Pro Bowl nod to miss 34 games the past four years. His lack of availability has led to speculation about him becoming either a cap casualty or a trade target. Heck, he himself has acknowledged that his days as a Packer are probably over, and rightly so.
You can be the most talented player in the world but it doesn't amount to much if you cannot step onto the football field. In Alexander's case, he's set to have a cap hit of $24.9 million in 2025, but releasing him (or trading him) would free up $6.8 million in space with $18.1 million in dead money. Given that his stock isn't particularly high coming off a pair of injury-marred seasons, the Jags could acquire him for a late-round selection.
B/R suggests the Packers' asking price be a third-round pick in exchange for Alexander and a sixth-round selection.
Should the Jaguars trade for Jaire Alexander?
Anthony Campanile spent the 2024 season as the Green Packer's linebacker coach. Before that, he held the same position with the Miami Dolphins for four years. Everywhere he's gone, he's gotten the most of his players, which is why some of them might want to follow him to Duval. For the sake of transparency, he wasn't Jaire Alexander's position coach, but he surely interacted with him on a daily basis.
If the Jaguars wanted to trade for Alexander, they would take on his salary for 2025. He has a base salary of $16.1 million, with a roster bonus of $650,000 per game and a $700,000 workout bonus. That's no chump change.
Make no mistake, Alexander is a talented player but his availability, or lack thereof, is a reason for concern. If the Jaguars are willing to invest that kind of money into the cornerback position, they might as well target Byron Murphy or Carlton Davis in the open market.
Moreover, a third-round pick feels too high for a player who has missed considerable time the past four seasons. Perhaps if it were a sixth, the deal should be worth considering. Otherwise, the Jags would be taking in too much risk. For that reason, they're better off waiting for the Packers to release Alexander and sign him at a more reasonable rate.
Sure, Jaire Alexander was a game-changer as recently as five years ago, but that was then. Now, he carries the dreaded injury red flag, and it doesn't make much sense for the Jaguars to trade a Day 2 pick for him.
Grade: D