Everything has gone quiet about Jaire Alexander's future with the Green Bay Packers.
While the Packers may hold out hope for a trade, the most likely resolution is the team releasing their former All-Pro cornerback. That hasn't changed. Green Bay has no reason to rush, and maybe Brian Gutekunst prefers to wait until after the draft. We'll see.
With or without Alexander, the Packers must rebuild their cornerback depth in this month's draft. They added Nate Hobbs in free agency, who offers inside/outside versatility, but they lack depth after losing Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine, and Robert Rochell.
The Packers have strict size and athleticism thresholds, which makes their rumored interest in Kentucky's Maxwell Hairston all the more surprising.
There's a lot to like about Hairston, who ran a lightning 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He is a playmaker, having made six interceptions (including three pick-sixes) over the past two seasons.
He checks a lot of boxes, but not all of them. The Packers rarely draft cornerbacks lighter than 190 pounds — especially in the first round — but Hairston falls comfortably below that number at 183.
In his seven draft classes, Gutekunst has drafted three cornerbacks in the opening three rounds: Alexander, Josh Jackson, and Stokes. All were at least 194 pounds. Hobbs, whom the Packers signed in free agency, is 6-foot, 195 pounds.
Gutekunst typically doesn't go against the strict guidelines set out by Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson before him, but the latest draft buzz indicates he could make an exception. It's becoming impossible to ignore.
Notable draft experts can't stop connecting the Packers to Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston
It's easy to dismiss one draft rumor, but when several insiders say the same thing, there is likely something to it. That's what's happening with the Packers and Hairston.
"I know they like Hairston from Kentucky," Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports told the NFL Daily podcast.
Tice isn't alone. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. named Hairston a prospect to "expect Green Bay to take a look" at.
Meanwhile, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, who is as plugged in as any draft insider and called the Jordan Love pick before almost anyone else, has also connected Hairston to Green Bay.
It's undeniable at this point. Either the Packers have fooled several top draft insiders, or they genuinely have interest in the Kentucky cornerback.
Again, it's easy to overlook one mock draft that connects the two by assuming they aren't aware of the Packers' preferences. However, when the Mel Kipers and Daniel Jeremiahs of the world say the same thing, it's worth paying attention to.
It's lying season, and we won't know anything for sure until the Packers hit the clock, but the buzz is becoming difficult to ignore. Hairston is a talented cornerback who could become an ideal Alexander replacement. He meets most of Green Bay's requirements at the position, but not all.
Will Gutekunst consider making an exception? It sure sounds like it.