The Baltimore Ravens have traded former Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander to the Philadelphia Eagles in a move announced on Saturday. This decision comes after Alexander struggled to find playing time, having been buried on the depth chart for weeks. As part of the deal, the Ravens sent Alexander along with a 2027 seventh-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Alexander, 28, has had a challenging season thus far, participating in only two of Baltimore’s eight games. In those appearances, he logged a total of 61 snaps but did not record any interceptions or passes defended. His lack of playing time culminated in being a healthy scratch for five games, including the recent victory against Miami on October 26, 2023.
The Ravens initially signed Alexander to a one-year, $4 million contract on June 18, 2023, in a bid to bolster their secondary. This move reunited him with former Louisville teammate Lamar Jackson and added a fifth former first-round pick to the Ravens’ defensive lineup. Unfortunately, Alexander’s season was marred by a knee injury that kept him from fully participating in training camp, followed by a lackluster performance during the Ravens’ narrow loss to Buffalo in the season opener.
New Opportunities in Philadelphia
With the Eagles, Alexander is expected to receive more opportunities on the field. The team’s secondary boasts talented players such as Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, but they have yet to solidify a solution for the outside cornerback position opposite Mitchell. Earlier in the week, the Eagles acquired Michael Carter III, who has primarily played as a nickel cornerback throughout his career. This acquisition raises the possibility that DeJean could transition to the outside if Carter earns a starting role.
There is a degree of familiarity between Alexander and the Eagles’ coaching staff, particularly with passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Christian Parker, who worked with him during his time with the Green Bay Packers from 2019 to 2020.
Before joining the Ravens, Alexander was released by the Packers on June 9, 2023, following two seasons plagued by injuries. Despite his challenges, he was recognized as an All-Pro in both 2020 and 2022. Over the course of his career in Green Bay, Alexander played in only 34 of a possible 68 games from 2021 to 2024, totaling 292 tackles, 12 interceptions, and 70 passes defended since being drafted as the No. 18 pick in 2018.
As Alexander transitions to Philadelphia, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how he integrates into a team that is actively seeking to strengthen its defensive lineup.
