The Baltimore Ravens love themselves some defensive studs, and so when one becomes available, it's practically second nature to picture them in Purple and Black. In the instance of the most recent star on the market, the dots practically connect themselves.
Jaire Alexander, the Green Bay Packers’ disgruntled and oft-injured Pro Bowl cornerback, clearly looks like he’s on his way out and looking for greener pastures. Guess which team is sitting in pole position to land him?
(In your inner announcer's voice) Your Baltimore Ravens!
Baltimore is already being labeled the favorite to acquire Alexander, and it’s not hard to see why. Not only do they have a clear need at cornerback, but Alexander and Lamar Jackson have history. The two were first-round picks in 2018, but before that, they were teammates at Louisville, where they both became college football stars. Jackson even said he and Alexander used to interview together during the pre-draft process.
Fill in the blank ⤵️
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) February 26, 2025
Jaire Alexander will play for the ________ this season. 🔮 https://t.co/8RHEpXBA7f pic.twitter.com/HBxynP4E8B
Now, nearly seven years later, the opportunity to reunite is closer than ever.
The Ravens are the favorites to be Jaire Alexander's next team
It’s been speculated that the Packers were looking to move on from Alexander. Ian Rapoport confirmed those rumors, reporting that Green Bay is actively shopping the two-time Pro Bowler. If Baltimore wants to get involved, they absolutely can.
With 11 potential picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, general manager Eric DeCosta has plenty of ammo to make a move. Given Alexander’s injury history—he’s played more than seven games just once in the last four years—his value isn’t exactly sky-high. A fourth- or fifth-round pick might be all it takes to land him.
But there’s a big hurdle: his contract.
Alexander still has two years and $37 million remaining on his deal. The Ravens are already tight on cap space, and they need to re-sign Ronnie Stanley. Trading for Alexander would require some serious cap gymnastics. DeCosta had previously said not to expect any big move this offseason, but does that only pertain to free agency? Baltimore would either have to:
- Restructure his deal to create immediate cap relief.
- Convince the Packers to eat part of his salary to make the trade happen.
- Wait for him to be released, though that’s far from a guarantee.
Green Bay could cut Alexander outright, which would save them $6.8 million in cap space. That would give the Ravens a chance to grab him as a free agent. But with other cornerback-needy teams in play, there’s no guarantee they’d be rewarded for their patience or win that bidding war.
Baltimore’s secondary needs help. Marlon Humphrey proved he is still a star, and rookie Nate Wiggins looks like a promising addition. But Brandon Stephens is a free agent, and after a more down-then-up season, he's likely gone. When healthy, Alexander is a game-changing talent who could instantly transform the secondary. When healthy.
The injury concerns are real. The contract situation is complicated. But the potential fit? It’s undeniable. If Baltimore finds a way to make it work, Alexander could be exactly what this team needs to finally get Jackson over the hump.