The staff spoke with Alexander’s camp Sunday, Dianna Russini and Matt Schneidman of The Athletic add. It was throughout that assembly that the 28-year-old realized he could be let go. As an alternative of continuous to pursue a commerce or a pact protecting Alexander in Inexperienced Bay at a reduced rate, staff and participant will now go their separate methods. Regardless of the monetary deadlock the events arrived at, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky notes Alexander was planning to attend obligatory minicamp.
Two years remained on the previous first-rounder’s contract, one which included nonguaranteed base salaries for the rest of the pact. Alexander was on account of carry cap fees of $24.64M and $27.02M, figures which weren’t possible from the staff’s perspective given his lack of ability to stay wholesome lately. By making this transfer after June 1, the Packers will see $17.12M in cap financial savings whereas producing a lifeless cash cost of $7.52M.
Alexander has spent every of his seven NFL seasons in Inexperienced Bay, working as a full-time starter all through his time with the staff. The Louisville product has been one of many league’s prime corners when wholesome, and he collected a second-team All-Professional nod in 2020 and ’22. Throughout the latter marketing campaign, Alexander set a brand new profession excessive with 5 interceptions whereas recording double-digit cross deflections (14) for the fourth time. Each years since then, nevertheless, he has performed solely seven video games.
That lack of availability has made Alexander’s future a speaking level for a while now. A commerce was not solely explored on this case, however the staff shopped him prior to free agency. No settlement was labored out, and shortly after the brand new league yr started Inexperienced Bay inked Nate Hobbs to a four-year, $48M pact. The previous Raider will probably be a key member of the Packers’ new-look secondary because the staff seems to maneuver ahead with out a defensive mainstay within the fold any longer.
Within the meantime, it is going to be fascinating to see how a lot of a market develops for Alexander late within the offseason. Suitors had been understandably hesitant about parting methods with draft capital given his damage points and the potential for a launch going down. Now that Alexander is certainly set to turn into a free agent, any number of teams have the monetary wherewithal to pursue what is going to little doubt be a short-term deal. Alexander was the league’s highest-paid nook on the time he inked his Packers extension, however his incomes energy will after all be enormously lowered this time round.
Jalen Ramsey looms as one other high-profile nook obtainable to groups, though the Dolphins All-Professional will (in all chance) be acquired through commerce. Alexander, in contrast, can start lining up visits with suitors as soon as his launch is processed.
