Green Bay Packers release $72 million Pro-Bowler in shock announcement just weeks into new season practice

THE Green Bay Packers’ reported release of a two-time Pro Bowl defender stunned fans.

The reveal came as the Packers are gearing up for mandatory minicamp this week.

AP

Head coach Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers finished the second and last week of Organized Team Activities on June 5[/caption]

AP

The Packers finished their Organized Team Activities (OTAs) last week.

They are coming off a 2024-25 season in which they were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round.

On Monday, the Packers released veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Alexander played in just seven regular-season games each of the past two seasons due to injury and didn’t play after Week 10 in the last campaign.

Still, the 28-year-old was productive in 2024 and finished second on the team in pass breakups, with seven, and tied for second in interceptions (two).

Fans were stunned at the decision on X.

“That’s surprising. He didn’t have a big impact, but he’s a good player,” one wrote.

“That’s a wild move,” another commented.

“I can’t believe they released him,” a third added.

While fans were shocked at the move, it was largely expected that the Packers and Alexander didn’t have a future together after the 2024 season.

During locker cleanout day after the season, Alexander declined to talk to reporters, saying he had “nothing good to say” and that he didn’t know if he would return in 2025.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst also said shortly after the campaign that he would be open to trading the cornerback.

“We invested a lot in Jaire and want to make sure if he’s not going to be on our football team winning us games, that we get something back for that investment,” Gutekunst said in March.

“So we’ll see where it goes, but again, working with him weekly and trying to figure out what’s best for both Jaire and the Packers.”

Rapoport reported that the Pacers and Alexander agreed to explore the trade market and considered restructuring his contract, but the two sides didn’t come to an agreement.

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Alexander has 17 career interceptions in seven seasons, including the playoffs[/caption]

The 2018 first-round pick Alexander signed a four-year contract extension with Green Bay in 2022 after earning an All-Pro nod two seasons earlier.

Then, he recorded 56 tackles, five interceptions, and 14 pass breakups and earned another All-Pro.

However, Alexander has missed half of the Packers’ regular-season games in the past four years.

A PCL tear ended last season for him.

He was owed $17.5 million this season, but none of the money was guaranteed.

The seven-year veteran will now look to sign elsewhere for the first time.