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You never want to have to cut a player loose, even at the NFL level. The Green Bay Packers have never been afraid to be a shrewd organization as it relates to letting go of players if they no longer make sense for the football operations side or simply just the business side of things, but one would have to imagine it’s even hard for them to hand someone a pink slip as well.
Thanks to the unprecedented access to NFL front offices that a show like Hard Knocks has given us over the years, we know these cuts are hard for everyone. Usually, fringe roster players who don’t have a chance to make the team are let go in the preseason. Sometimes, though, big names are also cut loose—and salary cap ramifications are primarily the reason.
Sometimes a player has simply just run his course with a team. A change of scenery could work to the benefit of everyone involved. These kinds of things happen, again, the Packers have never been afraid to make the move for one reason or another.
Heck, they’ve traded both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Last offseason they released star running back and fan favorite Aaron Jones, as well. You know this is an organization that thinks with its head and not with its heart.
The Packers are in a pretty decent cap situation heading into the 2025 offseason with roughly $42.1 million to play with. But they do have several of their own players they’re going to want to re-sign. Moreover, General Manager Brian Gutekunst’s “urgency mandate” from earlier this offseason suggests the Packers could spend some money to bring in more players via free agency or trade.
Names like Davante Adams and Maxx Crosby are among potential options floating around. And there’s a strong case the Packers should get in the Myles Garrett sweepstakes. Meanwhile, as mentioned, players like center Josh Myers, kicker Brandon McManus, and linebacker Eric Wilson are all candidates to be re-signed this offseason.
What that means is that $42 million can dwindle quickly, so Gutekunst may look to make a cut or two to try to save some cash.
Speaking of all these factors — saving cash and a player no longer being a good fit — there is one surprising player who does fit the bill on both accounts, and that would be star cornerback Jaire Alexander.
It was a tough year for Alexander, who has the potential to be an All-Pro cornerback and lock-down player when he’s healthy. That was his issue in 2024, though, and in fact, his lack of ability has been his only downfall as a Packer.
In the last four seasons, Alexander has played in only 34 of a possible 68 games. He played in 16 during the 2022 season after he got his contract extension. However, he has only played in 14 regular season games since then. That’s due to injury, but...
