Ravens finally admit Jaire Alexander signing was a mistake with trade to Eagles

With the trade deadline looming, the time was ticking for Baltimore Ravens’ cornerback Jaire Alexander. The team has been reported to be targeting a corner ahead of the deadline, and with Alexander off the field more often than not, it was clear the end of his underwhelming tenure in Baltimore was near.

General Manager Eric DeCosta admitted his mistake in signing the 28-year-old, trading him to the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. In the deal, the Ravens sent Alexander and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Eagles for a 2026 sixth-round selection.

Baltimore has struggled for depth at corner at times this year, but the acquisition of safety Alohi Gilman in the Odafe Oweh trade has lessened that need. Versatile safety Kyle Hamilton has taken snaps at corner since that deal, and has helped transform the defense. Overall, Alexander became expendable, and DeCosta struck to get something of value in return rather than cutting him or letting him walk next year.

Ravens deal Jaire Alexander to Eagles

Alexander only played two games with the Ravens. His season-opening performance against the Buffalo Bills, where he registered a 29.8 defensive grade, per Pro Football Focus (PFF), made it evident that his knee was not 100 percent. He tore his PCL over a year ago, but has had multiple procedures since.

Alexander was inactive in six of Baltimore’s eight contests. In the two games he did suit up for, he did not receive starting snaps. He has only seen the field for 61 total snaps, posting a 36.9 PFF grade in the process.

Unlike the Ravens’ younger corners, like T.J. Tampa and Keyon Martin, Alexander provided zero special teams value. If he was not going to be healthy enough to contribute in a large snap share on defense and could not play special teams, he simply would have no value on gamedays. Baltimore values special teams more than any other team in the league, which quickly made Alexander a poor fit.

For Baltimore, the trade is worthwhile. They swap a seventh-round selection a year down the road for a sixth-round pick in this upcoming draft. They struck a deal in a similar fashion with the Los Angeles Chargers in the Oweh trade, giving DeCosta another pick in his 2026 draft stash.

They also added $2 million in cap space that could come in handy if they end up buying at the trade deadline.

The Ravens could end up attacking the trade market in search of a corner that better fits the team. They could still be looking for a depth option that could contribute rotational reps to Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr’s unit, while also playing a factor on special teams.

Ultimately, Alexander’s lingering knee injury put him at an unfair advantage in Baltimore.