Martin from Port Washington, WI

I read somewhere that releasing Ja post-June 1, it would not count against comp pick against other teams signing him. Is that true and how does it affect us in that regard? Any other benefits of a post-June release vs. pre-June release?

By releasing him after June 1 (or had they released him earlier and designated the most post-June 1), the Packers could spread out the dead cap hit on Alexander over the next two years. But it sounds like they’ve chosen to take the full hit this year and just get it off the books.

Hey II, is there any possible benefit in pushing Jaire’s dead money hit all into this year? With the ability to roll over unused cap space into the next year, it seems like if they didn’t want to use it, they wouldn’t lose it. It just seems to limit what they could do this year if something unexpected happens, like a run of injuries that requires them to take on more contracts. Unlikely, but I am just trying to understand if there is any benefit here.

I’m not sure of the rationale. They’re clearly comfortable with the room they still have for this year, which remains substantial. It’s possible (and I stress possible because I don’t know and haven’t done all the math) if the Packers create too much cap space this year and end up not spending enough – say, for example, any delays arise in new contracts or extensions being worked on – they’d risk falling short of the minimum spend, which is either 89% of the cap over four years or 90% over three years; I’ve seen both published and referenced. Regardless, I believe the Packers have rolled over about $24M total in cap space from the last two years, which is roughly 5% of the combined 2022-23 cap maxes. So maybe that had something to do with the accounting.

On Monday we saw another big player move take place. Curious how a lot of these announcements are leaked before the Packer organization officially makes a statement. What is the process?

Reporters find out the information from the player’s agent, who is told before the organization makes an official announcement.

Nicholas from Washington, DC

Packers have a pattern of offloading great players a year early for financial reasons: Aaron Jones, Jordy Nelson, Rasul Douglas (midseason trade), the list goes on. I get that it’s a business, but are these cut-throat, “sensible” decisions the kind of things that hold us back? You need veterans and experience, and I worry that the front office’s continual rebuild and reload mindset is preventing us from competing. Thoughts?

My thoughts are it’s about risk assessment in this case, and $34M in base salary over the next two years is a massive gamble for a player who missed 13 games in ’21 and 10 each of the last two years. Add the fact that spending that money this year and/or next would likely force the Packers to let at least one of their maturing ’22 or ’23 draft picks walk at contract time, and it’s hard to argue with the decision.

With the Packers now around $46 million under the cap this year. I would assume most of that cap rolls over to 2026. Short term pain for losing Jaire but long-term gain with upcoming extensions for others on the team, specifically Zach Tom.

I consider a sizable portion of the cap space created for this year and next by Alexander’s release to be already targeted for big-money extensions for certain players I don’t expect the Packers to let get away.

Do you see renewed effort to extend contracts for Zach Tom and Quay Walker soon? On another note, do you think Romeo Doubs will have a season that will make him too expensive for the Pack to keep him?

What happens at receiver is much harder to forecast, but Gutekunst has minced no words in his view that Tom and Walker are in the team’s long-term plans.

Dennis from Seal Beach, CA

I have photos of Alexander and Justin Fields after the ’23 finale against the Bears. Photos of Aaron Jones as well. I thought that would be the last time I would see Justin Fields as a Bear. Did not think it would be the last time I would see Jones as a Packer. Nor did I think just a year later we’d say goodbye to Alexander. How things change. I won’t ask the question, but I can’t help wondering who we will be saying goodbye to in ’26.

As an old friend often said, it’s a game of replacement.