Packers officially release CB Jaire Alexander
Packers officially release CB Jaire Alexander
The Green Bay Packers officially announced the release of cornerback Jaire Alexander on Monday. The roster move was initially reported on Monday morning and is now official with the league office as of Monday afternoon.
Alexander's release ends a seven-year run for Brian Gutekunst's first draft pick as general manager of the Packers.
"In his seven seasons with the Packers, Jaire established himself as one of the premier players in the NFL at one of the game's most challenging positions," Gutekunst wrote in a press release. "His contributions to our organization were felt on the field, in the locker room and in our community, and he will be missed. We appreciate all he gave and we wish him all the best moving forward."
Alexander, a first-round pick of the Packers (18th overall) in the 2018 draft, played in 78 games (76 starts) over the last seven seasons in Green Bay. He intercepted 12 passes, returning one for a touchdown, and produced 70 total passes defensed. Alexander was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in both 2020 and 2022, and he was named to the PFWA's All-Rookie Team in 2018.
Alexander also appeared in seven postseason games. He intercepted three passes in the playoffs -- two on Tom Brady in the 2020 NFC Championship Game and one on Dak Prescott in the Packers' upset win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Round in 2023.
Alexander signed a four-year, $84 million contract with the Packers in 2022. However, he played in only four games in 2021, seven games in 2023 and seven games in 2024 due to injuries or suspension.
The Packers now have an open roster spot as mandatory minicamp -- the final event of the offseason workout program -- begins on Tuesday.
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New York Times
27 minutes ago
- New York Times
Should Caitlin Clark be a WNBA All-Star Game starter? Our experts reveal their votes
For the first time in WNBA history, All-Star Weekend is coming to Indianapolis. The city is not new to hosting major sporting events, routinely hosting Final Fours and annually hosting the NFL Draft Combine, but the arrival of the WNBA All-Star Game on July 19 comes at an inflection point for the Fever, who have rocketed in popularity over the last two seasons. Advertisement All-Star starters will be announced Monday. The league will release rankings from fan votes (50 percent), player votes (25 percent) and media votes (25 percent). The four guards and six players with the best score will be starters. Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier were named captains because they received the most fan votes. The WNBA is expected to unveil the 12 All-Star reserves, decided by the coaches on July 6. The captains will select teams in a draft broadcast on July 8. Before all that occurs, here is how The Athletic's Ben Pickman and Sabreena Merchant voted in their official ballots due last Friday, as well as how they are thinking about some critical All-Star questions. (Picks in alphabetical order according to positions) Pickman: In terms of guards, Seattle had been more than 36 points better per 100 possessions with Diggins on the floor than off it, and she already has 44 assists this season to Ogwukime, the most of any combination. Gray leads all players in win shares and is having a career-year under first-year coach Karl Smesko. Ionescu has been more efficient on offense this season, leading New York to an 11-3 at the time my votes were due. Whether to include Caitlin Clark was the toughest guard decision. At the time ballots were due, Clark led the league in assists and was fifth among guards in scoring. She also runs one of the league's most difficult actions to stop when she initiates two-player action with Boston. (Clark has 40 assists to Boston this season, second-most of any pair in the league.) Though Clark's home/road shooting splits are stark, her highs have been among the best this season. Her availability is what has given me the most pause. Clark played only nine games at the time ballots were due because of a left quad injury. (She's now missing additional time with a left groin injury.) She already has been named a captain, so debate over her candidacy is for naught, but reasonable cases can be made for Rhyne Howard, Advertisement Arguments are valid for Paige Bueckers, Brittney Sykes and Kelsey Plum to receive this spot over Clark, too. Clark has undoubtedly been one of the best guards in the league when healthy, but considering there are other players on my ballot who had played just two games more than her at the time of voting, I was willing to look past it. Merchant: Alyssa Thomas was the toughest frontcourt omission (and might have been impossible to leave out had voting not closed before Thomas' 17-point, 15-assist game Friday). However, the frontcourt pool is incredibly deep, and she couldn't overcome the missed time. If Thomas makes the reserve roster once she has played more — she currently isn't in the top 50 in total minutes played — that will feel deserved. The disqualifying factor for Clark was her inefficiency. She's shooting below 40 percent from the field and below 30 percent on 3s. When it came down to her and McBride, it was hard to choose the player who has so many more empty possessions, especially when McBride is the superior defender on the best team in the league. Apologies also to Jackie Young, who has taken on a large burden for the Aces. Ultimately, it didn't seem fair to reward teams with losing records with multiple All-Star starters. Merchant: Kayla Thornton (GSV) I considered Gabby Williams, but her inclusion feels so obvious to me that I'll make a pitch for a more unheralded candidate. Thornton has become the lifeblood of the upstart Valkyries, averaging career-best marks in points, rebounds, steals and fouls drawn at age 32. She has an almost spiritual connection with the fans in Ballhalla — nothing (other than a Kate Martin 3) seems to get them going like a Thornton bucket, especially one in transition. Crashing a forward pool that includes Shakira Austin, Dearica Hamby, Bri Jones, Thomas and Williams will be challenging, but Golden State deserves at least one All-Star, and Thornton's energy, physicality and late-game execution — she's 10th in the WNBA in clutch points per game — make her the pick. Advertisement Pickman: Brittney Sykes (WAS) Sykes is having a career-year under first-year coach Sydney Johnson. Known throughout her career as one of the league's best defensive players, Sykes' offensive game has blossomed this season. She's scoring a career-high 19.6 points per game, while shooting a career-best 41.7 percent from 3. She's also recording a career-high in assists (4.8), and is getting to the free-throw line more than anyone else in the league (9.6 attempts per game). Sykes is second among guards in shot attempts from less than five feet, converting an impressive 60.6 percent on those looks, as she attacks the rim with an aggressiveness that creates scoring chances for herself and teammates. As Sabreena mentioned, Williams is another first-timer lock, but Sykes should be, too. Brittney Sykes today 🔥 • 28 points • 6 assists • 3 rebounds • 6/12 FG • 29 minutes played — Women's Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) June 8, 2025 Pickman: Can I plead the fifth here and say no team is going to get more than three All-Stars? I would be surprised if New York, Seattle, Indiana and Atlanta don't get three each with the Lynx potentially also getting three if Courtney Williams is selected (more on that later). For the first few weeks of the season, an argument could be made for Liberty guard Natasha Cloud's first All-Star selection, but I think her candidacy suffered some in early-to-mid June. Merchant: In theory, the league's best teams should have the most All-Stars, but I expect all of Minnesota, New York and Phoenix to top out at two (apologies to the injured Jonquel Jones). It's the second tier of Seattle, Atlanta and Indiana that will probably all get three selections. It's a function of roster construction more than anything, as the top trio of teams simply has more depth, with fewer players putting up eye-popping stats. Merchant: Hamby has been excellent for the Sparks, and her motor powers the defense and transition offense. However, it's hard to see coaches voting for two players from struggling L.A., and Kelsey Plum figures to get more love with her top-10 scoring and assist averages. On the subject of bad teams, Arike Ogunbowale has been an All-Star every year since her rookie season, including winning All-Star Game MVP twice, but that streak likely will come to an end this year. Her exclusion won't necessarily be a snub considering the drop in her scoring and shooting percentages, but it is surprising in what should be the prime of her career. Pickman: My responses speaks to the above question regarding how many Lynx will make the All-Star team. For much of the season, Williams has been the second-best player on the team with the WNBA's best record. She is averaging career-highs in points (17.3) and assists (7.8) per 36 minutes, and her effectiveness in pick-and-roll scenarios with Collier (Williams has assisted Collier baskets 34 times this year) is central to Minnesota's success. Advertisement Yet, I'm keeping a close eye on whether Williams will get into the All-Star Game. She's a veteran whose per game averages don't jump off the page. How will coaches weigh Williams' case against Chelsea Gray, Thornton, Sonia Citron, Kelsey Mitchell, Kiki Iriafen or Azurá Stevens? A lot of players with strong resumes might find themselves on the cut line. (Photo of Caitlin Clark and Nneka Ogwumike: Alika Jenner / Getty Images)
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
10 NFL undrafted free agents who could make initial 53-man rosters as rookies
Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. By definition, undrafted free agents might seem like an afterthought to most after being repeatedly passed over. But that's hardly the case for NFL teams. To fully capitalize on months of extensive scouting work, front offices extend their personnel push well beyond the seven rounds of each draft. The work begins immediately as franchises flock to sign undrafted free agents, often ponying up significant sums of guaranteed money just to get what amounts to a first look at players. Many of those who latch on with teams during this portion of the process will end up on practice squads, operating in a sort of football purgatory as teams monitor their development. But that designation leaves them open to being signed away by competitors willing to put them on their active roster, so any organization worried about its promising young talent being poached must tread carefully. And with no shortage of recent success stories from the undrafted ranks – including Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker, who nearly matched the rookie yardage output of first-round teammate Xavier Legette, and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Omar Speights, who started 10 games in 2024 – coaching staffs have plenty of reason to keep an eye out for unlikely early contributors. With training camps set to start up next month, here are 10 undrafted free agents who this year have a chance to make the initial 53-man roster for their respective teams: Efton Chism III, WR, New England Patriots With New England having centered its draft on an all-out effort to support second-year quarterback Drake Maye, it seemed inevitable that an offensive newcomer would set himself apart during offseason workouts. Yet rather than first-round offensive tackle Will Campbell, second-round running back TreVeyon Henderson or third-round wideout Kyle Williams, it was a little-known slot receiver from Eastern Washington who created as big of a buzz as anyone. Chism, who broke Cooper Kupp's school single-season record for catches with 120 last year, quickly became a favorite of Maye, who estimated he found the 5-10, 195-pound target for "like 50 catches" in organized team activities. That only means so much prior to the start of training camp, but it unquestionably highlighted Chism's potential value given the Patriots' mandate on putting the 2024 No. 3 overall pick in more favorable spots after a rookie year rife with challenges. "I think he's a talented player. I think he has a certain skill set. He's dedicated. He's studied extremely hard," Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said in June. "He has a good feel for what we're asking him to do. I think the biggest thing for receivers is that there's trust from the guy that throws the football. "When you earn the quarterback's trust ... it doesn't take you long to figure out who the quarterback trusts. It's the ones they target. That's a good indicator." Chism's appeal as a safety valve in a Josh McDaniels-helmed system known for creating opportunities for slot receivers should be readily evident. But Demario Douglas looks to be entrenched in that role for the near future, and securing a spot on the roster might entail leapfrogging several more high-profile pass catchers in Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte and Javon Baker. If Chism continues to make his mark in a more competitive setting throughout the summer, however, he could be too promising to part with. Cobee Bryant, CB, Atlanta Falcons After placing a premium on jolting its pass rush with first-rounders Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., the Falcons then shifted their focus toward reshaping their secondary with second-round safety Xavier Watts and third-round nickel Billy Bowman Jr. But the work might not have ended there. Atlanta also added Bryant, a three-time first-team All-Big 12 selection who notched 13 career interceptions at Kansas. His 180-pound frame will need to be filled out for him to hold up against NFL receivers, particularly given his hyperphysical style that could leave him prone to plenty of penalties. But his consistently elevated aggressiveness serves him well in other phases of his game, and the Falcons' cornerback depth is relatively limited. Wide receiver Nick Nash and offensive guard Joshua Gray also have a solid shot at sticking around. Jared Ivey, DE, Seattle Seahawks On first blush, the Seahawks' edge rush might seem to be too deep to lend itself to an undrafted player latching on, with free-agent signee DeMarcus Lawrence and Boye Mafe being backed by Uchenna Nwosu and 2023 second-round pick Derick Hall. But Mike Macdonald's complex scheme demands a lot from its pass rushers, and Seattle could use some short-term insurance given Lawrence and Nwosu combined to play in just 10 games last season due to injuries. Ivey lacks the explosiveness of a typical developmental edge threat, but his versatility and skill set should endear him to Macdonald. Isaiah Neyor, WR, San Francisco 49ers With Brandon Aiyuk seemingly on track to start the year on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, the 49ers' outlook at receiver is far from settled. But that dynamic could open up an opportunity for Neyor, a 6-4, 218-pound speedster who drew a rave initial review from six-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle. "He was running a route and he got like 9 1/2 yards in two strides," said Kittle on a June appearance on the "Bussin with the Boys" podcast. "I was like, 'Holy (expletive).' It was insane. We watched it like 10 times in the tight end room. We were like, 'How is he doing this?'" Neyor first broke out at Wyoming in 2021 by averaging nearly 20 yards per catch and hauling in 12 touchdowns. But after tearing his ACL at Texas and only posting modest production last year at Nebraska, he still lacks a handle on the finer points of the position. Still, Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch might be reticent to allow other teams to swoop in, and Neyor might be able to earn a spot on the initial roster if he can beat out seventh-round selection Junior Bergen. Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Green Bay Packers A three-year starter on Georgia's star-studded defense, Stackhouse doesn't offer the flashy athletic traits of former teammates like Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis or even Warren Brinson, whom the Packers selected in the sixth round in April. But the 6-4, 327-pounder eats up space in the run game and routinely blows up blocks. With T.J. Slaton's departure leaving a void for that role on an interior line group otherwise built on penetrating, Stackhouse can carve out a fairly straightforward niche despite his playmaking limitations. Andrew Armstrong, WR, Miami Dolphins The Dolphins' draft class was defined by a dedication to fortifying its fronts, with the team's first three selections coming along the offensive and defensive lines. But that approach, combined with Miami's Day 3 strategy, left the organization to look towards the undrafted free agent ranks to address a receiving corps that looks dangerously thin behind Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and free-agent signing Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Of the four first-year wideouts added after the draft, Armstrong looks to be the best bet to crack the roster. The 6-4, 202-pounder can add a different flavor to Mike McDaniel's aerial attack by providing Tua Tagovailoa with a possession receiver who can thrive in contested-catch scenarios. Tight end Jalin Conyers also could push for a spot, especially with Jonnu Smith's contract standoff yet to produce a resolution. Seth McLaughlin, C, Cincinnati Bengals A torn Achilles suffered last November no doubt weighed down the draft stock of McLaughlin, who was a fixture for Alabama's front before transferring to Ohio State and winning the Rimington Trophy last year. If not for the ailment, the 6-4, 304-pounder would have had a strong chance to be selected given his track record as a heady blocker capable of compensating for his pedestrian frame and athleticism. On a Bengals line that has struggled to afford Joe Burrow with any steady protection, McLaughlin could be an intriguing understudy to Ted Karras, though he'll have to 2024 seventh-round pick Matt Lee for the role. An undrafted free agent could also claim a job on the other side of the ball, as defensive tackles Howard Cross III – who played under new Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden at Notre Dame – and Eric Gregory will try to make a push at a spot where Cincinnati has long underperformed. Ben Chukwuma, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Anyone guessing who landed the highest guaranteed payout among undrafted free agents probably wouldn't land on an offensive tackle from Georgia State who started for a little more than one season and didn't earn all-conference honors. Nevertheless, it was Chukwuma who stood above all his peers after netting $300,000 from the Buccaneers, according to multiple reports. The 6-6, 310-pound blocker, who moved to Georgia from Nigeria when he was 17, only began playing football after attending a walk-on tryout at Georgia State. Having paid a hefty sum to secure his services, the Buccaneers' brain trust clearly is interested in what it can make of Chukwuma and his tools. Jah Joyner, DE, Las Vegas Raiders Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce give the Silver and Black a solid foundation for a unit otherwise seemingly devoid of building blocks. Behind them, however, there's little certainty. Neither first-round disappointment Tyree Wilson nor Charles Snowden have provided much of a spark, even in backup roles. Joyner might not push either for a spot on the second string, but his tenacity could make him a solid rotational piece. Da'Quan Felton, WR, New York Giants Any question about the Giants' satisfaction with their wide receiver depth after the draft was quickly answered by the team signing five undrafted players at the position. Of those brought on, Felton might be the most fascinating - and have the best chance of securing a backup job. The 6-5, 213-pound target sizes up as a natural partner for Russell Wilson given his knack for hauling in contested catches downfield. With few other big bodies in New York's receiving corps, Felton could hold down a unique role while becoming a more precise route runner and eliminating the drops that have long plagued him. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Anthony Hargrove is the Saints Player of Day 69
Hargrove was a key contributor with New Orleans during their Super Bowl XLIV championship run The last day of June also marks 69 days before the regular season opener for the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans will face the Arizona Cardinals at home to kick off this season. It'll be their 59th year of NFL existence, but first year under new head coach Kellen Moore. We've been highlighting a player of each day that wears a number that corresponds with the remaining number of days until kickoff. However, no New Orleans player currently wears 69. The last player to wear 69 for the Saints was offensive lineman Chris Reed, who did it for five special teams snaps in one game for the team last year. With No. 69 not currently in the rotation, our choice for Saints Player of the Day is Super Bowl XLIV champ Anthony Hargrove. A defensive back and quarterback in high school, Hargrove moved to the defensive line when he got to college at Georgia Tech. His career with the Yellow Jackets was short but productive. Over 24 collegiate outings, Hargrove had 6 sacks with 19 tackles for loss while forcing 2 fumbles and recovering 2 other fumbles. He showed enough for the Rams to select him with a Round 3 choice in the 2004 NFL draft. Hargrove was with St. Louis until 2004, gathering 8 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. Early in the 2006 season, the Rams traded Hargrove to the Buffalo Bills. He'd remain with Buffalo through the rest of 2006 and all of 2007. With the Bills, Hargrove had 2.5 sacks. During the 2008 offseason, it was reported that Hargrove had violated the NFL's substance abuse policy. Because of repeated violations, Hargrove was suspended for the entire 2008 season. Upon reinstatement by the league in 2009, Hargrove was signed by the New Orleans Saints. He was moved from defensive end inside to tackle by the Saints, where he'd become a valued part of the interior rotation. Hargrove appeared in all 16 regular season games in 2009, recording 5 sacks and recovering 3 fumbles. One of those he returned for a touchdown, as he was a valuable contributor on the team's Super Bowl XLIV championship squad. Hargrove remained with the Saints in 2010, where he recorded 1 sack during 14 games of action that season. Hargrove signed a free agent deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011. He was released in training camp, but would play 15 games that year with the Seattle Seahawks. The following year, he was among several New Orleans players and coaches implicated in the 'Bountygate' scandal -- the largely unfounded witch hunt by commissioner Roger Goodell. It resulted in the suspension of Hargrove and other players, along with a ludicrous one-year suspension of Saints coach Sean Payton. Hargrove and other players eventually had their suspensions overturned by former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, but 2011 would turn out to be his last NFL season. Hargrove had tryouts with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys in 2012 and 2013, but was unable to make the roster of either team.
