Although the Green Bay Packers have a number of secondary problems, the primary one has been the absence of standout cornerback Jaire Alexander.
Despite being a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro selection, Alexander has only made seven appearances in the last two seasons. When the Packers signed the cornerback to a four-year, $84 million deal extension back in 2022, they were not exactly expecting that kind of return.
On January 23, CBS Sports declared that a “divorce” between Alexander and the Packers was “inevitable.” Green Bay could save more than $6 million against the salary limit by achieving that goal through a trade or by cutting the cornerback.
Our focus is on a second trade Green Bay should make to replace Alexander on what could be a Super Bowl-caliber defense in 2025, and the best candidate in this regard is Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward. ESPN’s Ben Solak suggested that the Browns might flip Ward, citing the Packers and rival Minnesota Vikings as top suitors. While Solak’s suggestion included a first-round pick, that might be too steep now that Ward has indicated he might ask out if the team cuts ties with Myles Garrett after his recent trade request.
The Packers should be able to acquire Ward for a package that includes its second-round and sixth-round picks (Nos. 54 and 200 overall), as his unwillingness to stay in Cleveland, some recent concussion issues, and three years left on a $100.5 million contract have somewhat reduced his value.
