Should Ravens Pursue Jaire Alexander?
Cornerback Jaire Alexander is on the open market after being released by the Green Bay Packers Monday, and the Ravens have been named a potential landing spot for the two-time Pro Bowler.
Injuries to his groin, back, shoulder, and knee have limited Alexander to a combined 14 games over the past two seasons, but the 28-year-old is one of the best cornerbacks in the league when healthy.
"To be clear, adding Alexander would make plenty of sense for Baltimore. The team's decision-makers abide by the philosophy that you can never have enough corners," The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec wrote.
"A strong case could be made that the Ravens needed to add another veteran cornerback before the Packers abandoned their efforts to trade Alexander, and he suddenly became a free agent. Additionally, it became abundantly clear that the Miami Dolphins were working to move on from another accomplished cornerback, Jalen Ramsey. There's been no indication that the Ravens are involved in the Ramsey talks."
The Ravens have been aggressive before in pursuing big-name free agents who hit the market.
"This is another example of a team going all-in if the signing were to happen," Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema wrote. "The Ravens lost Brandon Stephens from last year's secondary but still have Marlon Humphrey to play inside and out, as well as second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins, who could be in for a big season after earning a 69.0 PFF coverage grade as a rookie with 11 forced incompletions. Baltimore signed Chidobe Awuzie to a one-year deal this offseason, but Alexander would be an upgrade over Awuzie's 62.4 and 58.3 PFF coverage grades over the past two seasons."
CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin offered a similar opinion.
"We know the Ravens have a history of going after star contributors -- especially if they don't count against the compensatory pick formula, which Alexander wouldn't because he was released after June 1," Dubin wrote. "Baltimore signed Chidobe Awuzie earlier this offseason to play opposite 2024 first-rounder Nate Wiggins, but Alexander is the more talented player. Especially after the Ravens lost safety Ar'Darius Washington, which will affect their versatility on the back end, it would not be surprising if they were interested in adding another high-level defensive back. They're always looking for ways to keep their options open with how they deploy their personnel."
Alexander has a connection with the Ravens, as he and quarterback Lamar Jackson played together at Louisville. Both were selected in the first round in 2018.
The Baltimore Sun’s Brian Wacker said the Ravens had interest in Alexander ahead of last year's trade deadline, and it would make sense for them to make another run at him.
"The discussion didn't go far because the Ravens preferred not to give up draft compensation, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Baltimore Sun," Wacker wrote. "But Baltimore also checks a lot of the boxes in terms of what Alexander is looking for. Among those criteria is a one-year deal, which would allow him to seek a bigger, long-term contract next offseason, and playing for a contender.
"Though Baltimore ranks 21st in the league in effective cap space at just under $19 million, according to Over The Cap, Alexander, who was set to make $17 million this season but will almost certainly get paid significantly less, is a player the Ravens could afford as a short-term rental on a Super Bowl-caliber roster. The Ravens could also create more cap space through contract extensions, of which there are a handful of candidates, including Jackson, or via restructuring other deals. Importantly, signing Alexander would not be a long-term commitment for a Baltimore team that is ready to contend for a title now. Signing him for a year and him leaving in free agency next offseason could also net the Ravens a compensatory draft pick."
Ebony Bird’s Connor Burke said the Ravens signing Alexander would give them the league's scariest secondary.
"He would fit in perfectly with the cornerback room, slotting in at Baltimore's second outside corner spot opposite of Wiggins, and he'd allow Humphrey to continue to put up All-Pro numbers in the slot where he's been at his best," Burke wrote. "Throw in Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks, two versatile safeties, and Baltimore's secondary would be loaded."
As talented as Alexander is, signing him would not come without risk, given his injury history.
"Of course, Alexander's medical file could raise some concerns," Wacker wrote. "He has missed at least 10 games in three of the past four seasons. Last season, he appeared in just seven games because of quadriceps and knee injuries. Only four times in his seven seasons has he played at least 13 games. Only twice has he played a full season."
Awuzie has also dealt with injuries in recent years. The Ravens could view Alexander and Awuzie as a strong pairing to cover the entirety of the season.
"If Alexander is deemed healthy and is totally on board, is there any downside to the move? Nothing overly significant stands out," Zrebiec wrote. "It feels like an obligation to at least explore the possibility."
Ravens Are No. 2 in Defensive Triplets Rankings
As noted in Late for Work last week, the Ravens' combination of Jackson, running back Derrick Henry, and wide receiver Zay Flowers was No. 1 in Sports Illustrated's offensive triplets rankings.
Baltimore nearly took the top spot in SI’s defensive triplets rankings as well. The trio of defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, linebacker Roquan Smith, and Hamilton was No. 2.
"Smith and Hamilton remain two of the best at their respective positions," Gilberto Manzano wrote. "Madubuike dropped off a bit from his breakout 2023 season, but his presence in the middle of the defensive line provided favorable matchups for his teammates. All three were named to the Pro Bowl last year, with Smith and Hamilton making All-Pro teams."
The only trio ranked ahead of the Ravens was the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, and Quinyon Mitchell.
Pundit Says Keaton Mitchell Is an Under-the-Radar Player Who Could Break Out
Keaton Mitchell has been one of the standouts at OTAs, and CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan named the third-year running back the under-the-radar player most likely to blossom into a key contributor for the Ravens this season.
"For a six-week stretch during the 2023 season, Mitchell was a lightning rod," Sullivan wrote. "The back averaged 8.4 yards per rush and 10.5 yards per reception. However, that run ended when he suffered a torn ACL that also put a dent in his 2024 campaign. Now, Mitchell is back healthy and noted recently that he feels 'like I'm back better than when I first got' to Baltimore. Of course, Derrick Henry will carry the bulk of the work out of the Ravens backfield, but Mitchell could prove to be a change-of-pace option with home run ability for what is already one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL."
Mitchell is third on the running back depth chart behind Henry and Justice Hill, but he could also make a big impact on special teams. Mitchell, who noted that he was timed at 22.4 miles per hour running full speed last month, said last week that he wants to be the Ravens' primary kick returner.
