Jaire Alexander is a name the Cowboys should absolutely consider exploring.
The Green Bay Packers invoked hope in the minds of football fans everywhere on Monday morning when their plan to release cornerback Jaire Alexander became known.
What one team deems to be unfit for their operation can suddenly be a lifeline for another. As fans of the Dallas Cowboys we have seen this bear itself out a lot over this offseason specifically as the team has been rather active (for their standards) in free agency, but particularly with regards to trades as well. This offseason alone the Cowboys have made phone calls to land four veterans: Kaiir Elam, Kenneth Murray, Joe Milton and George Pickens.
No trade will be required to land Alexander now as he will be released, but they obviously are moving on for a reason. Whatever that reason is may not serve to be as much of a deterrent for Dallas as it was Green Bay. There is no question that Alexander can help this team and that he plays a position of need.
That sounds like the perfect combination.
The Cowboys should absolutely be interested in Jaire Alexander
Let’s set the record straight right away. Alexander has faced some injuries over the last few years and they have inhibited how much time he has played. He played in seven games in both 2023 and 2024 for a total 14, two fewer than the 16 that he suited up for in 2023.
It should also be noted in this discussion that Alexander was suspended for a game in 2023 by the Packers for what they deemed to be conduct detrimental to the team. Getting more clear here the “conduct” was that Alexander was not named a team captain prior to Green Bay visiting the Carolina Panthers (he is from North Carolina) in December of that year. Alexander, once again not a captain for the game, went out to midfield for the coin toss and called it (tails never fails!) himself. It was bold and led to a suspension.
There is clearly good associated with Alexander, though. He was an All-Pro in both 2020 and 2022 and was still playing in solid form last season in the limited action that he did play. Consider that as December began he had the third-highest ball hawk rate (23.3%) among outside cornerbacks with at least 20 targets to that point in the season, according to NFL Pro.
As December wrapped there was no question that the Packers were much better with Alexander than without (which also calls into question his release). When the new year hit the team had a 9.7% lower completion percentage with him on the field as opposed to with him off of it. He made a sizable difference.
If we are getting down to the core of things here, the biggest argument for Jaire Alexander to the Cowboys has to do with what they have going on at the position themselves. Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland and Kaiir Elam lead the cornerback room, but they each carry some what-if propositions. There is uncertainty around Diggs’ health, Bland’s as well alongside whether or not his play can return to what we saw in 2023, and whether or not the team will be getting the version of Elam who the Buffalo Bills thought they were drafting. If each or at least some of those things hit then things will be totally fine. But what if they don’t?
Alexander carries questions himself as noted. He could be an injury concern. He may be a slight annoyance in a particular moment as the Packers found out in Charlotte.
But the floor of the cornerback room would raise significantly with him in the picture and therefore the move is one the Cowboys should seriously consider. It isn’t of the you better do this variety, but this is exactly the rainy day that they save their funds for.
