Free agency is less than a month away and one area the Jacksonville Jaguars will need to address is cornerback. While they have a keeper in Tyson Campbell, they need someone else on the opposite side of the field. They will have no shortage of options in the open market, but if the Jags want to get defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile one of his former guys, they should be thrilled that Jaire Alexander will be available.
Rob Demovsky of ESPN reports that there's a strong chance that the Green Bay Packers will release Alexander, citing the team's frustration with the cornerback's availability or lack thereof.
"There are strong indications that Alexander's time with the Packers will end without him playing another down. Multiple team sources have privately expressed their frustration with Alexander's inability to stay healthy and/or play through injuries."
A first-round pick in 2018, Alexander is one of the best cornerbacks when he's available. Back in 2022, he logged five interceptions, 14 passes defensed, and earned the second Pro Bowl nod of his career. The issue is that the former Louisville Cardinal sat out 20 games the past two seasons and 34 dating back to 2021. Moreover, he underwent surgery near the end of 2024, so he may not be 100 percent this offseason.
Alexander has two years left on the $84 contract he signed in 2023, but Green Bay could release him or trade him and free up $6.8 million in cap space. Demovsky believes that will happen, having grouped Packers free agents in four categories and dubbing the veteran corner a let go/release candidate.
In Jacksonville, Alexander would be reunited with defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. While he didn't directly play for him in Green Bay, they know each other well, and his familiarity could prompt the Jags to take a flyer on him.
Jaire Alexander could be a low-risk/high-reward acquisition for the Jaguars
The latest news doesn't come as a surprise. After all, Jaire Alexander has been non-committal about his future, declining to speak to the media at the end of the 2024 season. Given that he's missed considerable time, other clubs won't be in a rush to sign him, so it may be a matter of time before the Green Bay Packers release him.
Granted, Alexander's injury history is most definitely a reason for concern, but he could most definitely help the Jacksonville Jaguars. Given that he's missed time the past two seasons, he could be in demand in free agency but won't command a big salary. If anything, a one-year deal could be the best course of action for him and the club that signs him.
In the Jaguars' case, they would need to add insurance to their cornerback group. Ronald Darby is expected to be a cap casualty, so Montaric Brown would be next in line if Alexander misses time.
Brown saw considerable playing time last season but was inconsistent. At this stage of his career, he's better suited for a reserve role. This is a long-winded way to say that if Jacksonville goes after Alexander, it would make sense to use an early-round draft pick (maybe a second or a third) at cornerback.
The bottom line is that Jaire Alexander comes with red flags, but signing him is a calculated risk that could pay dividends for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the offseason.