The Baltimore Ravens' signing of cornerback Jaire Alexander has drastically shifted the roster’s landscape. All offseason, the team was looking to find its outside corner opposite Nate Wiggins, and while veteran corner Chidobe Awuzie seemed like he would do the job, it is clear Baltimore had bigger plans, and they seized the opportunity by signing Alexander.
The defense looks miles better now and should be elite in 2025. Sure, they faltered for most of the 2024 season, but their final stretch proves that defensive coordinator Zach Orr has one of the strongest units in football.
However, this news could not be worse for rookie corners Robert Longerbeam and Bilhal Kone. The two had an easy path to a roster spot, but that road became troubling after last week’s signing. There was a reason the Ravens drafted them with two of their coveted picks, but the duo faces an uphill climb in 2025.
Robert Longerbeam and Bilhal Kone might be the biggest losers of the Alexander deal
Longerbeam and Kone were both sixth-round picks. For most teams, those would be lesser-prominent draft picks. However, the Ravens cherish every pick they have more than anybody, and the two corners could carve out a spot in Baltimore’s future. But it will not be this season, and with a packed corner room, it might not be in Baltimore at all.
Longerbeam is a smaller corner, and people expect him to play in the slot at the NFL level. In the Ravens’ positionless secondary, though, the Rutgers product will play any role he is needed in. He operates with a physical demeanor to win in all facets. He also plays the ball well, grabbing five interceptions in his collegiate career, and has a receiver background. The 24-year-old was ready to showcase his NFL-ready talents in year one. But, with Alexander's arrival, he could quickly become an afterthought.
Kone has some analysts excited about his future with Baltimore. If you want to develop and reach your full potential, there is no better landing spot than the Ravens. He is a super aggressive corner paired with high intelligence. He has the desired measurables and enough quickness to translate into a starting-caliber corner in the pros, but if he wants to reach that potential in Charm City, he will have to flash early when the pads go on.
Both corners would have faced a steep battle regardless of whether or not the Ravens signed Alexander. 2024 first-rounder Wiggins had a tough time earning consistent starting reps out of the gates, so the struggle for two sixth-round rookies to earn the coaching staff’s trust was going to be difficult.
Now, the Ravens have a group of All-Pro Marlon Humphrey, Wiggins, Alexander, Awuzie, and 2024 fourth-round selection T.J. Tampa. The corner room is crowded. There is so much talent that Longerbeam and Kone could be in a fight for the NFL lives with roster cuts lurking in the preseason. While the Ravens try to keep their rookies around for at least one year, they are not afraid to make cuts if necessary, and the rookie corners’ challenge to lock up a roster spot just got even harder.