By: Justin Tessier
It didn’t take long for 2-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl Veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander, 28, to find his new team to showcase his talents for after being released by the Green Bay Packers on June 9th of this month, it ended a seven-year run with the NFC North team that drafted him where he emerged as one of the NFL’s top talent cornerbacks.
The Baltimore Ravens inked him to a 1-year “prove-it” deal worth $4 million base up that could escalate to $6 million if certain incentives hit. This deal balances upside with financial caution. Jaire chose Baltimore over more lucrative deals, reportedly drawn in by Lamar Jackson’s influence and the chance to reunite to play with his former teammate in college (Both played at Louisville (2015-17) before being first-round picks in 2018).
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Jaire Alexander: Shutdown Defender
Since entering the league in 2018, Jaire Led his team in passes defensed four times: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022. Alexander was a consistent playmaker in Green Bay’s secondary. His best full season came in 2022, with 5 interceptions and 59 return yards. Despite dealing with significant injuries in the 2023 and 2024 NFL seasons (playing only 7 games each year including a suspension). Here’s some stats & sorcery that Jaire Alexander has been resumé up until now:
Regular Season Totals:
• Games Played / Started: 78 GP, 76 GS
• Total Tackles: 287 (240 solo, 47 assists)
• Sacks: 1.5
• Passes Defensed: 70
• Interceptions: 12, for 201 return yards (avg.
16.8), with 1 pick-six (2024) and a long of 37 yards
• Forced Fumbles: 3
• Fumble Recoveries: 2
• Led his team in passes defensed four times (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022)
Jaire Alexander Post Season Stats:
- 7 games, 6 starts
- Tackles: 28 (20 solo, 8 assisted)
- Interceptions: 3 (16 return yards)
- Passes Defended: 5
While healthy, he’s been an elite-caliber player in the NFL who has already proven to be a difference-maker in the secondary. With the addition to Baltimore his presence alongside Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, Malaki Starks, Chidobe Awuzie and Kyle Hamilton creates a formidable secondary. Jaire steps in to take the pressure off that opponents placed on cornerback Brandon Stephens during deep-ball coverage throughout all of 2024.
Relocating from the NFC North to the AFC North for a new change of scenery, reuniting with playing alongside his college buddy Lamar Jackson. It could prove very well to be the jumpstart to revitalizing Alexander which he needs in his career right now. Coming off of back-to-back injury marred seasons, Alexander needs to prove he is still the player he was early in his career.
Jaire Alexander’s signing signals to the rest of the league the Baltimore Ravens are all-in on competing for a Super Bowl in 2025. Alexander joins a cornerback room with plenty of talent in it, leaving them with an embarrassment of riches in the secondary.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he puts himself in the conversation for comeback player of the year if he remains healthy throughout the campaign. Alexander at times has been one of the best defensive backs in the league, if he can get back to that, the Ravens will make it extremely difficult to move the ball through the air in 2025.
He’ll have the supporting cast on defense (Depth players like Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Robert Longerbeam, and Bilhal Kone provide coverage if Alexander misses time) to make his job easier to allow him to do the things he’s great at doing, while at the same time taking pressure off the offense and not needing to put up so many high point-scoring games.
Winners & Losers from Jaire Alexander to the Baltimore Ravens deal:
The Winners:
- Ravens Defense (Secondary)
- Lamar Jackson
- Jaire Alexander
The Losers:
- AFC Quarterbacks & Coaches (Specifically AFC North)
- Green Bay Packers & Packers fans
- Teams needing a veteran CB
My Final take on what I believe to be this is which is that it is a cornerstone move for both the Player Jaire Alexander as well as for the Baltimore Ravens. His addition to this Super Bowl ready roster is what it appears to be, a high-reward low-risk move for the Ravens. The gamble revolves around his availability-if he remains sidelined, his impact diminishes-but the one-year, incentive-laden deal provides the Ravens flexibility and upside without long-term commitment.
If he stays healthy, he’ll transform a Top-10 defense into a Top-5 defense easily with Top-3 overall upside, capped off behind a lockdown secondary. His elite skills and chemistry with Lamar Jackson compliment Baltimore’s playoff Super Bowl winning aspirations and might be the edge ultimately to help get them there in the end.
Sources for Stats:
- Baltimoreravens.com
- Baltimorebeatdown.com
- Si.com
- nfl.com
- espn.com
- cbssports.com
- packers.com
Photos courtesy of:
- NFL
- 33rdteam
- Next Gen Stats
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