The Green Bay Packers seem ready to bring an end to the Jaire Alexander era, as Matt LaFleur and the front office seem unwilling to put up with a player who has suffered so many destabilizing injuries.
Alexander is likely to be released by the Packers if they are unable to find someone who could trade for him, but that won't stop Brian Gutekunst from trying to see if anyone will bite. So far, the early returns seem to be fairly disheartening.
Ian Rapoport tweeted out that the Packers are interested in trading Alexander, but only if they find someone who can meet their price for him. This may sound fairly boilerplate to some, but those in the know are hinting that this is a sign no proverbial fish are biting here.
Former Packers executive Andrew Brandt was able to take this bit of GM-ese and translate it into English. According to Brandt, Green Bay putting out leaks like that through Rapoport is a sign that they have tried to move Alexander, but have not found any viable offers they can pull the trigger on.
Packers Jaire Alexander trade decision could backfire on them
Alexander can be one of the feistiest and stickiest cornerbacks in the league when he is healthy, but he's been injured so frequently over the last few seasons that it's difficult to gauge how valuable he is at this point in his career. Alexander has played more than seven games in a season just once in the last four years.
While it's not Alexander's fault that he gets hurt, it seems like the Packers have grown increasingly frustrated with the fact he spends more time recovering from his injuries than he does putting rubber to the road on the field. It seems like both parties just need a fresh start after years of mutual frustration.
RELATED: Mel Kiper mock draft has Packers landing dream Jaire Alexander replacement
The Packers have enough financial flexibility to make some big-name additions in free agency and the NFL Draft to replace Alexander. The draft route could be particularly fruitful, with names like Texas' Jahdae Barron and East Carolina's Shavon Revel Jr. standing out as possible replacements.
Alexander and the Packers seem destined for a breakup, which would be a very uninspiring way for their partnership to end. However, to truly take the leap from good to great this offseason, Green Bay may need to stop relying on someone with as brittle a frame as Alexander.