Regular participants in the summer free agent market, the Ravens will make another play for a veteran. They are bringing in Jaire Alexander, per a team announcement. Alexander was in Baltimore to sign his deal Wednesday.
Baltimore had not been closely linked to the high-profile cornerback since his Green Bay release, but the team appeared to have a need. Alexander will join Marlon Humphrey and 2024 first-rounder Nate Wiggins to give the Ravens a potentially formidable corner trio. Alexander has seen his stock dip in recent years due to unavailability, but his past two full seasons have brought second-team All-Pro honors. And a few teams were willing to bet on a return to form.
The sides agreed on a one-year deal worth $6MM, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. That represents the max value, per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, who indicates the contract covers $4MM in base and includes an additional $2MM in incentives. These benchmarks are not exactly unrealistic, as NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds they are tied to playing time. Alexander can earn $500K by playing just 35% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps. The other thresholds here — all covering $500K — check in at 40%, 45% and 50%.
This will provide a potential platform for Alexander to reestablish his value ahead of a 2026 free agency bid. A report last week indicated a one-year pact with an eye on a 2026 market trip was the most likely outcome, and it is rather interesting Alexander will fetch a deal at this rate given his considerable injury struggles. But the 2018 first-round pick has shown a high ceiling when healthy. The Ravens, who had already done some CB work this offseason, will bite as they attempt to book an elusive Lamar Jackson-era Super Bowl berth.
A few teams had established themselves as apparent non-suitors, as the Rams and Dolphins were believed to be out on the former Pro Bowler. The Panthers also appeared unlikely to make a push, but the Bills had discussed trade terms with the Packers earlier this offseason. Buffalo, though, used a first-round pick on Maxwell Hairston (as Rasul Douglas remains unsigned). And a handful of teams did reach out to Alexander’s camp following his recent release. On that note, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports the Ravens did not submit the best offer. They will land him anyway.
This deal also comes a day after Jackson offered an endorsement, telling GM Eric DeCosta to “go get” his former college teammate. Jackson informed media at minicamp (including PFR’s Nikhil Mehta) he backed a reunion. Jackson and Alexander each entered the NFL in the 2018 first round out of Louisville, the latter going to the Packers 14 picks earlier (No. 18). Baltimore now has exclusive negotiating rights with Alexander until the 2026 legal tampering period, but this also stands to be an audition season after the talented cover man missed 20 games over the past two years.
The Packers offered Alexander a pay cut to stay, circling back to the injury-prone CB after dangling him in trades during free agency and the draft. Alexander, 28, balked a pay slash and ended up generating a market. He missed time with groin, back, shoulder and knee injuries from 2023-24 — a period that also included a one-game team-imposed suspension for a strange coin-toss incident against the Panthers in 2023. While the Packers gave the 5-foot-10 corner another chance in 2024, he burned them again with unavailability. Green Bay, which had given Alexander a then-CB-record four-year deal worth $84MM in May 2022, added Nate Hobbs in free agency.
Alexander’s $21MM-AAV contract came despite him missing most of Green Bay’s 2021 season — one in which the team booked the NFC’s No. 1 seed — due to a shoulder injury. Alexander did make it back for the Packers’ divisional-round game — a loss to the 49ers — but that season began a trend of unreliability. Though, Alexander has impressed when on the field.
Pro Football Focus graded Alexander as a top-10 corner upon his return in 2022, and the advanced metrics site viewed him as a plus defender during each of the past two injury-marred years. PFF slotted Alexander 22nd among CB regulars in 2023 and 19th last season. This will help a Ravens that improved during Zach Orr‘s first season in charge. The Ravens have gone to the summer free agent well largely to add edge rushers in recent years, bringing in the likes of Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy, Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Houston. This addition will shake up a CB group that already included an injury reclamation project.
Baltimore added Chidobe Awuzie — on a one-year, $1.26MM deal — following his Titans release in March. Awuzie now represents the lower-profile of the Ravens’ two CB rebound bids, standing to work as the team’s top off-the-bench option. Our Adam La Rose broke down an Awuzie-T.J. Tampa battle for a starting spot Tuesday, but these performers now supply depth.
Awuzie, whom the Titans released after he missed much of last season (on a big-ticket contract) with another injury, could certainly be needed for extensive work based on Alexander’s medical sheet. But the Ravens will hope their Humphrey-Wiggins-Alexander trio holds up as they attempt to topple the Chiefs for the AFC title.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.
The sun rises in the east, gravity pulls down, and the Ravens sign a veteran who was cut so he doesn’t affect their comp pick considerations.
Can you explain this a little further for me? I don’t understand if you meant it as a compliment or a criticism.
I think he means that the Ravens are predictably smart.
Not a criticism at all. It’s good business that the Ravens do all the time. When you lose free agents above a certain level of contract, that gains you comp picks. When you sign free agents above a certain level of contract, that can offset your losses and mean you don’t get the picks. But if you sign guys who were cut or sign guys after June 1st, they don’t affect your comp picks. So right now they’re estimated to get comp picks for losing Mekari and Stephens, and signing Alexander doesn’t affect that. They do this all the time. Signing Clowney in August of 2023 is another example. All of this is part of how the Ravens end up drafting more than most teams (20 picks over the last two years, for example).
Appreciate it, thank you.
Any time
Refreshing to read some actual intelligent discourse in a comment section. Thanks for the explanation!!
Refreshing when I can share my football nerdiness to answer a question someone actually has!
It is a part of the game that even most fanatics don’t understand. Xs and Os are tough… but cap and draft compensations are another level. The hiring of minorities into coaching candidates rewards teams. Niners have had a bunch of picks just from losing coaches to become head coaches. After typing the word minorities…. I decided there’s a better word somewhere. It doesn’t read well.
Players that are cut don’t affect extra draft pick formulas
When you sign free agents or lose free agents they use some formula to determine how much you “gained” compared to what you “lost” and compensate you with extra draft picks
If you signed a free agent lb and lost one in free agency their production would help or hurt you in the formula.
If your guy does better worse picks
If the guy you lost does better better picks
If you lose a guy in free agency and don’t sign a guy in free agency but draft one you automatically win that formula in a sense
But the formula takes a look at all players you signed vs all players you lost who signed elsewhere
Ravens seem to have the formula figured out and always wind up with extra 3rds and 4ths it seems
If he can stay healthy the Ravens get another FA steal. And even if he doesn’t he isn’t costing much to find out. Well played!
Solid
As a Bills fan – dont like that.
Ravens are tough, and I think this is a good gamble for them.
In my heart, I think Ravens and Bills are two best teams in AFC, and this could potentially get the Ravens the edge. They were already pretty evenly matched.
If Benford is locked into CB1, and some combo of MH/Tre/Dane/the 2 2025 CB picks are vying for CB2.. feels like this could have been a nice flier for Beane to take. Seems like Jaire got a similar deal to Tre actually, so maybe Beane felt he already took an incentive-laden injury/performance risk at CB2.. but now the Ravens get stronger, which could be a problem.
Hairston is gonna be a steal. There isn’t room for Jaire.
That deal would have needed to be done before the draft – and he wasn’t released yet.
Plus cost of a trade.
Taking a swing on another injury risk in Bosa makes it really unlikely this was ever a real possibility. Two of those types in a starting role – it’s risky.
Im happy with how it worked out for us – but I don’t like Jaire going to Baltimore.
Really great move.
Wow did not see that coming.
Good on him for taking less AND going to a crowded CB room if he thinks it is the best place for him to rebound and chase a ring.
Wish it didn’t benefit the Ravens, but good for them too I suppose. They’ll likely wind up getting a 3rd Rd Comp pick for one of those guys down the road.
How many coin tosses will he show up for?
Maybe half
he’ll be great for 8 games
Ravens have a one of the best QB’s, one of the best RB’s and trio of good WRers, two good TE’s, a really solid o line, a formidable secondary and have always been good up front.
On paper this is easily one of the best teams in the league. Probably top 4 with the Eagles, Bills and Chiefs
You forgot to mention they have the best massaged kicker in the league 🙂
Good for Baltimore, but hes only guaranteed $4M with $2M in incentives. Sounds like he should’ve taken that pay cut with GB.
Eight games….or less.
It will be interesting to see how many games he plays this year. Since he’s playing for a 2026 big money contract I bet he makes a surprising return to good health. He’s never played the run that well. Not a hitter. Used to be able to cover really well, can he still? Played good against the Vikings Jefferson but I think he missed both games against them last year. My guess is that he has a really good year but drives Harbaugh nuts!
This guy is made of glass, can never stay healthy the ravens will be lucky if he plays half the games this coming season
My over/under on games played is 11
I’d have liked him for my Raiders, injuries and all.