Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has been the subject of trade rumors for months now and should be one of the most fascinating players to watch during the offseason. Once the unquestioned centerpiece of Green Bay’s defense, the two-time Pro Bowler has struggled to stay on the field over the past few seasons. Limited to a combined 14 games since 2023, the cornerback carries a $24.6 million cap hit with no guaranteed money. He won’t return to the Packers on his current deal, and Sports Illustrated‘s Albert Breer believes four teams could take a risk on him.
In a recent article, the NFL analyst said that the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Rams could all pick up the phone and inquire about Alexander’s availability. Breer acknowledges that Alexander’s contract will make it difficult to facilitate a trade and that “the most likely scenario is that he’s back on a reduced contract with incentives.” However, it’s worth analyzing these four teams to see if they could justify a high-risk, high-reward trade for Jaire Alexander.
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Chiefs, 3 Others Named As Top Trade Fits For Jaire Alexander
Kansas City Chiefs
Armed with just over $12 million in salary cap space, the Kansas City Chiefs could not trade for Jaire Alexander without dramatically impacting their ability to add players when injuries inevitably strike during the season. However, if they can get Green Bay to eat some dead money, this could be a strong fit. Trent McDuffie is one of the league’s best cornerbacks, and while Jaylen Watson is a fine starter, Alexander is a superior player when healthy. The injury risk is real here, but the upside is undeniable for a team hoping to put last year’s season-ending loss in the rear-view mirror.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers must do something to add some life to this organization. Mike Tomlin’s squad has been treading water ever since Ben Roethlisberger suffered his season-ending injury in 2019, and a Jaire Alexander trade could bring some life to this defense. Alexander and homegrown talent Joey Porter could be a fantastic duo that should be able to compensate for what will likely be a below-average offensive passing attack.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers suffered through an injury-plagued nightmare last year, but they should be competitive if the team can stay healthy. While the defense should be dangerous, the 49ers need more aggressive playmakers in the secondary. The team has the second-most cap space in the NFL, and while some of that will be used on Brock Purdy’s inevitable extension, they should be able to afford a Jaire Alexander trade.
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are one of the frontrunners in the Jalen Ramsey trade sweepstakes, but Jaire Alexander wouldn’t be a bad fallback option. Matthew Stafford is playing on a year-to-year basis at this point in his career, and free agent signee Davante Adams is on the older side. This team is all-in for the 2025 season, and adding a potential lockdown cornerback like Alexander could bring them over the top.
