Now a free agent, Jaire Alexander makes sense for the Baltimore Ravens for more reasons than one and might be a more realistic signing. Due to age, contract disputes, and injury concerns, he was cut from the Green Bay Packers as they started over in the secondary. It is rare of a player of his caliber to hit the open market right after the NFL Draft and actual free agency.
While the 28-year-old is a risky long-term option, if Alexander is seeking more of a prove-it type deal, Baltimore finds itself potentially at the top of the list of teams he could sign with. The two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler was in the same draft class as his former Louisville teammate Lamar Jackson in 2018 as a former first round pick.
While the Ravens already have a loaded secondary with Marlon Humphrey, former first round rookie Nate Wiggins, and brought in Chidobe Awuzie, one injury can derail everything. T.J. Tampa and late round rookies Bihal Kone and Robert Longerbeam are also competing for depth.
Jalyn Armour-Davis is trying out at safety with Ar’Darius Washington (out with Achilles) and now Beau Brade left early in OTAs (severity of lower-leg injury is unknown). While a signing at safety is still possible, in the mean time, Sanoussi Kane will back up Kyle Hamilton and first round rookie Malaki Starks.
With extensions done with Rashod Bateman and Derrick Henry and more coming with Jackson, Tyler Linderbaum, and Hamilton, that would ultimately free up more cap space in the short-term. According to Brian McFarland of RavensSalaryCap, they have around $18 million but Baltimore could have flexibility and potential moves to make that can create more if needed to make a potential big splash.
While the best days might be ahead of him, the Ravens signing Jaire makes more sense than trading for another cornerback on the market in Miami Dolphins‘ veteran star Jalen Ramsey.
Jaire Alexander Makes More Sense for Ravens
With Humphrey excelling against slot receivers, Baltimore should try to keep him inside and with his injury history, along with Awuzie’s and even Wiggins during his rookie year, adding a established starter on the outside might be something the Ravens can’t pass up. Especially if Alexander is seeking more of a one-year deal with his injury history, according to CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones.
Both potential corner options do have their injury concerns, but Alexander has only played 14 games the last two years and played just four games in 2021. He has four basically healthy seasons compared to three that have been more recent. Jaire’s best season was 2022 where he was on the field and had five interceptions, the last time he wasn’t dealing with an injury.
The only problem that could make it harder for Baltimore to sign Jaire is due to him being on the open market, as plenty of teams could pay him big-time money even on a one-year over the Ravens. However, his fit in Baltimore, not to mention him being former teammates with their star quarterback, is better on the outside compared to Ramsey.
Also, the Fins star corner’s contract might be a tougher pill to swallow compared to a potential Jaire signing if he does rather take a discount in order to get a potential ring in 2025. Ramsey has been an outside corner but has been seeing potential better success closer to the line of scrimmage but he could be viewed more as a safety for some team defenses at this stage of his career.
Alexander can align anywhere on the field as a versatile playmaker and ball-hawk, but he does offer more speed the Ravens could use. Compared to Jalen, he brings size and potential position versatility at a much higher cost while giving up potential draft picks/ or players via trade. Jaire does bring better man-coverage ability, while Ramsey could be a better zone fit while both, when they are healthy, are extremely feisty press man corners.
With plenty of factors on the table in the Alexander signing vs. Ramsey trade discussions, I still expect the Ravens to be in the running for Jaire more so compared to Jalen in the coming weeks with mandatory OTAs starting up.
