San Francisco, CA – June 10, 2025
The rumors hit fast the moment the Green Bay Packers parted ways with two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander. With the 49ers still reeling from the departure of Charvarius Ward to Indianapolis, the chatter about bringing in a big-name replacement like Alexander felt inevitable. But for all the excitement, San Francisco would be wise to take a deep breath — and walk away.
On paper, Alexander’s résumé sparkles. An elite cover corner when healthy, he’s earned the respect of quarterbacks league-wide for his ball skills, swagger, and lockdown ability. But “when healthy” is doing all the heavy lifting in that sentence. The 28-year-old has missed significant time in three of the last four seasons, appearing in only seven games in each of the past two years, and a mere four in 2021. The trend is no longer a fluke — it’s a red flag.
Even Packers team president Mark Murphy, in a parting comment that pulled no punches, remarked, “We’ve gotten used to playing without him.” That should send shockwaves to any front office even considering a signing — especially one as injury-conscious as the 49ers.
The Niners already had their 2024 Super Bowl dreams derailed by a brutal cascade of injuries. From Deebo Samuel to Christian McCaffrey and, yes, their secondary — the narrative was clear: the team needs to get younger, healthier, and more dependable. That’s exactly why they spent a third-round pick on Upton Stout, a feisty rookie they fully expect to start in the slot from Day 1. Veteran Deommodore Lenoir is shifting to the boundary, and second-year man Renardo Green is projected to start opposite him.
Would Alexander bring a boost in experience? Certainly. But he wouldn’t bring dependability — and he likely wouldn’t come cheap.
The 49ers currently have cap space to work with, as CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin noted, but they’ve made it clear this offseason that durability is now a premium trait in Santa Clara. Adding another fragile star, especially at a position as physically demanding as cornerback, would be a step backward.
Jaire Alexander remains a top-tier talent in theory. But theory doesn’t win playoff games. Availability does. And for a 49ers team with no margin for error, especially in a loaded NFC, this isn’t the time to roll the dice on a body that’s spent more time in recovery rooms than on the field.
The message is simple: Let someone else take that risk.
