The future of Jaire Alexander with the Green Bay Packers hinges significantly on a looming decision tied to an $8 million roster bonus due on March 20, according to sources within the league as reported by ESPN.
The team suspended Alexander, currently the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team. This action followed his self-appointment as a captain for the recent game against the Carolina Panthers, where he participated in the coin flip. While he will miss the upcoming game against the Minnesota Vikings, Alexander is expected to return for the regular-season finale against the Chicago Bears.
However, the pivotal point in the Packers’ decision-making process appears to be the $8 million bonus. The team has the option to retain Alexander by picking up the bonus, or they could explore trade possibilities. The decision is complicated by other factors, including Alexander’s absence from the team’s offseason program in Green Bay, opting for workouts in Florida instead, and his injury history, having missed nine games this season.
Green Bay is known for preferring player participation in their offseason program, and Alexander’s decision to forgo this resulted in the surrender of a $700,000 workout bonus last spring. Additionally, the cornerback missed games due to both back and shoulder injuries during the current season.
Despite coach Matt LaFleur characterizing Alexander’s coin-toss incident as a “big mistake,” he clarified that the suspension was unrelated to the player’s injuries preventing him from playing. The incident involved Alexander calling tails, winning the toss, and expressing the team’s desire to be on defense, which was misconstrued but clarified before any consequences ensued.
Alexander, a Charlotte native, did not display remorse for his actions, stating it was “only suiting” when questioned about joining the captains for the coin toss. The Packers had signed Alexander to a four-year, $84 million contract extension in May 2022, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history by annual average salary.
Despite this lucrative deal, some league sources are critical of Alexander’s frequent inactivity and his behavior during the recent incident. The impending roster bonus deadline adds complexity to the decision, as cutting Alexander before March 20 would incur more than $3 million in dead money against the Packers’ 2024 salary cap.
In the current season, the two-time second-team All-Pro cornerback has recorded four pass breakups but no interceptions in six games.
