The Baltimore Ravens have traded cornerback Jaire Alexander to the Philadelphia Eagles, a move finalized on Saturday. This decision comes after Alexander found himself sidelined on the depth chart for weeks, with limited participation in games this season. The Ravens will receive a sixth-round pick in the 2026 draft in exchange for Alexander and a seventh-round pick in 2027.
Alexander, 28, has had a challenging season, appearing in only two of Baltimore’s eight games and racking up just 61 total snaps. He has not recorded any interceptions or passes defensed and has been a healthy scratch in five games, including the recent 28-6 victory over Miami. The Ravens initially signed Alexander on June 18, 2023, to a one-year contract valued at $4 million. This contract reunited him with former Louisville teammate Lamar Jackson and added another former first-round pick to the Baltimore secondary.
The cornerback’s struggles began with a knee injury that hampered his training camp performance. Following that, he faced difficulties during the Ravens’ season opener, a narrow 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills, where he was unable to contribute effectively, leading to his reduced role.
Opportunity Awaits in Philadelphia
Alexander is expected to find more playing time with the Eagles, who are in search of a solid option for the outside corner position. The Philadelphia secondary features standout players such as Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, but has yet to determine a consistent solution to complement Mitchell. Earlier in the week, the Eagles acquired Michael Carter III, whose primarily nickel role may allow DeJean to transition to an outside position full-time, depending on Carter’s performance.
There is a degree of familiarity for Alexander within the Eagles organization. Passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Christian Parker previously worked with Alexander during his tenure with the Green Bay Packers from 2019 to 2020, which could facilitate a smoother integration into the team.
Before his time with the Ravens, Alexander was released by the Packers on June 9, 2023, following two seasons marred by injuries. Despite being named an All-Pro in both 2020 and 2022, he participated in only 34 of a possible 68 games for Green Bay from 2021 to 2024. Drafted as the No. 18 pick in 2018, Alexander boasts impressive career statistics, including 292 tackles, 12 interceptions, and 70 passes defensed.
As the NFL trade deadline approaches, this deal exemplifies the Ravens’ commitment to optimizing their roster while providing Alexander a fresh start in Philadelphia. The Eagles will look to capitalize on his potential as they continue to refine their defensive strategy.
