A statement signing for the Baltimore Ravens.
The Baltimore Ravens have made one of their trademark summer acquisitions and it is a big one.
Free agent Jaire Alexander has signed a one-year ‘prove it’ deal, leaving the Green Bay Packers to join up with fellow cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins in Baltimore.
How good is Alexander?
Alexander is by far the best cornerback that the Ravens could have signed throughout this offseason.
He will instantly improve the team’s defense whenever he is on the field. It will also open up options for defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
For example, having Alexander on the roster means that the Ravens can move Humphrey inside to play slot corner.
It also offers Baltimore significantly more flexibility in the positioning of Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks, as well as Humphrey, among others, in the knowledge that Nate Wiggins and Alexander can lock down the outside.
The move surely gives the Ravens the most talented secondary unit in the NFL.
Baltimore will be confident they can get the best out of Alexander, having signed him to a one-year deal.
That does however bring its own risk – if Alexander plays well, it will increase his market value. And having underpaid for the Louisville alum this year, next year could be more costly.
There are other risks for the Ravens too. While it may be the most talented secondary unit in the league, it could also be the most brittle, with significant injury layoffs for Alexander, Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie in the past couple of years.
Risks for the Ravens
Alexander would not have been available as a free agent if he had remained healthy.
However, while signing a player of his calibre is a good pick-up, it could also be a progress stopper for younger talent.
It means that one of Jalyn Armour-Davis or T.J. Tampa may not make the roster.
That is a bigger concern given that only Tampa and Nate Wiggins are under contract in the cornerback position for 2026. The Ravens will need to know where they stand with depth and development for this position.
However, with Jaire Alexander on the market, the Ravens simply had to go for it.
With the former Packer signed, it is an exciting new face that could be the difference maker for the Baltimore defense.
They are all in on 2025 and this could be their year. But Alexander is not a guaranteed home run – especially if he cannot stay healthy.
