Vikings Can Pounce on Long-Awaited Free Agent
If the Minnesota Vikings wish to cash in on longstanding Jaire Alexander rumors this offseason, the path became as clear as ever on Monday.
After months of speculation, one man is available to the Vikings, perhaps the offseason’s cake-topper.
The Vikings’ cornerback spot is in decent shape per most fans’ estimation, but because the team has cracked open a Super Bowl window, summer roster additions might be all about making the depth chart unstoppable.
Thankfully for Minnesota’s sake, Alexander is now available.
Packers Release Jaire Alexander
Some NFL team — perhaps the Vikings — can procure Alexander’s services, possibly as early as this week.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky wrote Monday, “Two straight injury-filled seasons ultimately spelled the end for cornerback Jaire Alexander with the Packers, even if it took a while to reach that point. The Packers informed Alexander on Monday that he would be released, a source told ESPN, ending an offseason saga in which the two sides tried to find a middle ground.”
“It came one day before Alexander had planned to report for the team’s mandatory minicamp after skipping all of the in-person, voluntary workouts this offseason. Alexander appeared in just seven regular-season games each of the past two seasons and did not play after Nov. 17 last year — despite practicing on a semi-regular basis. He went on injured reserve the final week of the season and had knee surgery on what he said was a torn PCL.”
Alexander is a two-time Pro Bowler.
Demovsky added, “Still, he finished second on the team in pass breakups (seven) and tied for second in interceptions (two). That came a year after shoulder and knee injuries plus a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team limited him to seven games.”
Months of Chatter
Alexander entered the Vikings’ rumor mill late last season when it became apparent that something was strange about his situation in Wisconsin. Battling injuries, as mentioned by Demovsky, Alexander would reach the cusp of playing, and then the Packers would rule him out.
Purple fans began daydreaming about Alexander, an arch-nemesis, as a member of the Vikings, but until this week, he awkwardly remained on the Packers’ roster.
Now, he’s there for the taking.
The Vikings’ Possible CB Room
If one takes the plunge and assumes Minnesota will have interest in Alexander, a Vikings cornerback room could look like this in September:
- Jaire Alexander
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Jeff Okudah
- Dwight McGlothern
- Ambry Thomas
Unlike the current state of affairs, that hypothetical cornerback corps would scream Super Bowl contendership, whereas, at the moment, Minnesota’s Alexander-less group needs each player in peak form.
Alexander could be the offseason’s chef’s kiss.
There’s Always at Least One Packer for Vikings
Packers defecting from Green Bay is nothing new, and in fact, Alexander would merely become the latest chapter.
Ryan Longwell did it in 2006. Brett Favre followed suit three years later. So did Greg Jennings. More recently, Bashaud Breeland, Chandon Sullivan, Za’Darius Smith, Dean Lowry, Eric Wilson, and Aaron Jones have crossed state lines to play for the purple and gold team.
It’s also worth noting that the train from Minnesota to Green Bay is less travelled; inverse defections are rarer.
Janik Eckardt on Jaire Alexander
Our own Janik Eckardt wrote about Alexander about one week ago: “Knee problems bugged him in 2024. He logged only seven games in each of the last two seasons and was limited to four in 2021. In both of his last two healthy seasons, in 2020 and 2022, he went to the Pro Bowl. At this point, all options are on the table.”
“The Vikings have made moves for released Packers in the past, and they have added various previously injured players under this regime. Injuries and money aside, Alexander would be a massive get for a team that has only one experienced and proven cornerback on the team in Byron Murphy Jr.”
The Vikings would have to get creative with their salary cap to sign Alexander, but executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski has a track record for creating cap magic.
Eckardt continued, “Isaiah Rodgers joined from the Super Bowl winners, but he has never played more than half the snaps in a given season. Mekhi Blackmon returns from a torn ACL and showed promise in 2023, but despite his age of 26, he is pretty much unproven. Jeff Okudah has played a significant number of snaps in his career, but mostly at a below-average level.”
“It wouldn’t be shocking to end up seeing the Vikings jump on the opportunity, but the Packers would have to release Alexander first, and then he’d still have to take a pay cut. At this point, it’s a fun speculation item, but should still be treated like a long shot. Alexander is scheduled to face Justin Jefferson twice in the upcoming season.”
Alexander turned 28 this offseason and should have 2-3 seasons left of his prime if injuries don’t reemerge. The free-agent-to-be last fired up a marvelous season in 2022.
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