As trade rumors continue to swirl around Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, quarterback Jordan Love made it clear this week where he stands: he wants Alexander to stay.
Appearing on The Up & Adams Show Thursday, Love addressed the speculation that his Pro Bowl teammate could be moved before the season begins. While he hasn’t spoken with Alexander directly about the trade talk, Love didn’t hold back on expressing how much he values having No. 23 on the field and in the locker room.
“Ja, he’s got his own world going on. I’m going to let him handle his own business,” Love said. “But that’s my guy right there. He’s definitely a player we need back. Just the play style he brings, who he is on the field, that’s a guy we need to have around.”
The challenge, however, is that Alexander hasn’t been on the field consistently enough in recent years. After playing just four games in 2021, he rebounded in 2022 to earn his second Pro Bowl nod. But since then, injuries have again become a recurring theme. He appeared in only seven games each of the past two seasons, with a PCL tear cutting short his 2024 campaign after Week 12.
Despite those setbacks, the Packers handed Alexander a four-year $84 million extension in 2022 deal that briefly made him the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback. With two years and $37 million still left on that contract, the return on investment has understandably been questioned within the organization.
General manager Brian Gutekunst acknowledged after Green Bay’s playoff exit in January that the situation has been “frustrating” for both sides. While he didn’t rule out Alexander’s return, reports surfaced in February that the team had explored trade opportunities and would be open to a deal for the right offer.
Now, with the 2025 NFL Draft less than a week away and taking place in Green Bay, the Packers could use one of their early picks on a cornerback. A move that might hint at Alexander’s future with the team. If they go that route, it could signal a willingness to part ways with the veteran defensive back before the regular season begins.
Still, Love is holding out hope that Alexander remains part of the team’s plans.
“In the locker room, he’s a character,” Love said. “He’s always interacting with everybody. He jokes around, but he’s also got that serious side as a competitor. And obviously, the player on the field is a whole different level. That’s something we’d be missing big time if he’s not here.”
“I’m hoping Ja’s still there with us,” he added. “We’ll see. But that’s my guy right there.”
