Methods and systems to explicitly realign packets are described. The system includes a first communications device that receives a first stream of bytes comprising a first packet and generates realignment information for the first packet based on an alignment restriction. The first communications device further transmits a second stream of bytes over the data path comprising the first packet and the realignment information. The transmitting of the first byte of the first packet over the data path being in accordance with the alignment restriction that is associated with an interface. The realignment information identifies a difference between a time that the first byte of the first packet would have been transmitted by the first communications device without the alignment restriction and a time of transmission of the first byte of the first packet by the first communications device in accordance with the alignment restriction.