Jaire Alexander's uncertain future is once again under the spotlight. Following Ian Rapoport's report that the Green Bay Packers have had trade conversations, it's a matter of if, not when, Alexander departs.
General manager Brian Gutekunst will attempt to negotiate a good deal for the Packers, but the harsh reality is that they might not get what they consider a strong offer. Green Bay may have to accept less compensation, which would at least give them the control of trading Alexander to an AFC team.
Alexander will almost certainly leave this offseason, and free agents Eric Stokes and Corey Ballentine could join him.
Replacing Alexander is one of the Packers' top priorities. Free agency is an option, but they may also turn to the 2025 NFL Draft. However, one potential target is likely off their board after the NFL Scouting Combine.
Zy Alexander is likely off the Packers' radar after the NFL Scouting Combine
Replacing Jaire Alexander with Zy Alexander has a nice ring to it. It also looked like a real possibility based on Zy's talent. He is projected to go around the third round, which would've made sense for the Packers.
However, the LSU product struggled at the NFL Scouting Combine, earning a Relative Athletic Score of just 4.00 out of 10.
History suggests the Packers won't draft him.
Since replacing Ted Thompson as the Packers' general manager in 2018, only five of Brian Gutekunst's draft picks, all Day 3 selections, had an RAS below 5.0.
Gutekunst's picks in the opening three rounds have an average RAS of 8.73. When focusing only on third-rounders, the average is 7.83. The takeaway: Gutekunst rarely drafts players with an RAS below 5.0, and when he does, it's in the later rounds and never on Days 1 or 2.
There's a lot to like about Alexander's game. According to PFF, he allowed a passer rating of just 53.2 in his coverage last season. In two seasons at LSU, Alexander broke up 11 passes and intercepted four.
He could become an excellent starting cornerback in the NFL, but it's hard to imagine the Packers selecting him with a Day 2 pick. They prioritize athleticism throughout the draft, but especially in the early rounds.
The Packers will search for Jaire Alexander's replacement in the months ahead, but Zy Alexander likely isn't the answer.