It's understandable why the Green Bay Packers moved on from Jaire Alexander, but that doesn't make the reality any easier.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst explained his decision, bluntly spelling out that it was a "lot to pay for a guy who hasn't been able to get on the field." Harsh? Yes, but also true.
That doesn't change the new situation it creates. Alexander is free to choose his next destination, and Packers fans have seen this one play out before. When a fan favorite leaves, they almost always join a rival. In this case, the Philadelphia Eagles annoyingly make the most sense.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports predicts Alexander will sign a one-year, $16 million contract with the Eagles, and the worst part is that he's probably right. He notes that the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Rams also make sense, but the Eagles stand out as Alexander's next destination.
"The Philadelphia Eagles are due for a splash, though, and Alexander, who just happened to be born in Philly, would give them a higher-upside rental for their title-winning secondary," writes Benjamin.
Jaire Alexander to Eagles makes too much sense, but it would lead to inevitable pain for Packers fans
Alexander signing with the Eagles is about as bad as it gets, save for perhaps the Vikings.
Philadelphia would have successfully built the secondary that every Packers fan cried out for. We were all there in 2024, pounding the table for the team to draft Cooper DeJean. Gutekunst passed in the first round, and the Eagles astutely traded ahead of the Packers to land him in the second. They also drafted Quinyon Mitchell, another prospect many hoped would end up in Green Bay.
Mitchell and DeJean were among the five finalists for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Now, add in Alexander, a multi-time All-Pro for the Packers? That's a sickening thought. A starting trio of Alexander, Mitchell, and DeJean is as good as any in football, and it would make Green Bay's path in the NFC that much tougher.
Adam Schefter of ESPN believes it's a possibility, telling 97.5 The Fanatic that the Eagles could be a landing spot "if the price were right and you're doing a one-year deal."
The Eagles have inflicted enough pain on the Packers, don't you think? And we didn't even get a tush push ban to make amends.
Alexander is still deciding his next move, but joining the rival Eagles makes far too much sense. But, hey, at least it would mean not joining the Vikings? Let's not put that idea out into the universe.