Packers’ Jaire Alexander Trade Pitch Sends Cornerback to NFC Rival

April 1, 2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jaire Alexander’s days with the Green Bay Packers could be numbered, with GM Brian Gutekunst signaling the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback might be available by draft night, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. As the 2025 NFL Draft nears, one surprising suitor has emerged: NFC rival Carolina Panthers.

David Latham of Last Word on Sports floated the Panthers as a landing spot, noting their desperate need to bolster a porous defense. “Jaycee Horn’s a Pro Bowler when healthy, and Michael Jackson flashed last year, but there’s still a gaping hole,” Latham wrote. He suggests Carolina might wait for Green Bay to cut Alexander—a move that’d save the Packers $6.84 million pre-June 1 or $17.08 million post-June 1 against his $25.48 million cap hit (Over The Cap)—then swoop in to sign him.

Alexander, 28, notched 2 interceptions in 2024, bringing his career total to 12 (NFL.com). The 2018 first-round pick from Louisville has battled injuries, playing just 34 of 68 games since 2022 (Forbes), fueling trade buzz. Gutekunst’s kept options open—“He could be back,” he said last week (web ID: 14)—but with Nate Hobbs and Rasul Douglas in tow, the Packers might cash in.

Carolina’s defense bled points in 2024, and Horn’s injury history underscores the need for a CB1 like Alexander. Latham sees a post-cut signing as ideal, avoiding a trade cost—say, a third-rounder—for a Panthers team with $31 million in cap space (web ID: 0). X fans buzzed: “Jaire to Carolina? NFC chaos!” (@PackFaithful).

At 28, Alexander’s still a lockdown talent when healthy, but Green Bay’s $40 million cap cushion (Over The Cap) gives Gutekunst flexibility to deal or keep him. Will the Panthers pounce, or is this just draft-season smoke? The clock’s ticking.