The Jacksonville Jaguars hired offensive guru Liam Coen as their head coach, but the new regime’s first order of business in 2025 will be fixing the other side of the football.
The Jaguars were exposed for a lack of depth and talent on defense during a brutal 2024 campaign. Top cornerback Tyson Campbell pulled his hamstring in the season opener, free agent addition Arik Armstead was largely a bust, and Jacksonville finished the season ranked near the bottom of the NFL in yards and points allowed.
Coen’s top priority should be fixing a passing defense that ranked dead-last in the league by a large margin. Dan Pizzuta, an NFL analyst for the 33rd Team, recently proposed a blockbuster trade between the Jaguars and Green Bay Packers that would add a bonafide star to the secondary.
Pizzuta predicts the Jaguars will send draft picks to Green Bay for cornerback Jaire Alexander this offseason. Here was his take on the potential fit.
It’s easy to see Green Bay seeking an exit plan from the highest-paid cornerback in football.
Alexander was suspended for a game last season by the Packers for anointing himself a captain and nearly botching the team’s pre-game coin toss. He also hasn’t played a ton of football over the past two seasons due to injuries, including just nine game appearances in 2023, making him a risky proposition for a rebuilding team like the Jaguars to acquire.
With that said, there’s no denying how dominant Alexander can be when healthy and happy. The Jaguars would instantly boost their struggling cornerback room by pairing Alexander opposite Campbell on the boundary, with the ascending Jarrian Jones in the slot. Alexander’s shaky standing with Green Bay could also work in Jacksonville’s favor in terms of trade compensation.
The talent is undeniable, and Alexander’s contract is extremely team-friendly. If Anthony Campanile — the former Packers linebackers coach turned Jaguars defensive coordinator — sees the former No. 18 overall pick as a building block, this hypothetical trade proposal would make a lot of sense for both sides.