Jaire Alexander Picked Ravens over Falcons, Dolphins
The Ravens weren't the only potential suitors for cornerback Jaire Alexander.
After the Ravens signed Alexander to a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $6 million last week, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler provided more insight into the inner workings of the addition. Fowler said the two-time Pro-Bowler chose Baltimore over the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins.
Fowler also reported that General Manager Eric DeCosta was "flirting with a trade possibility" for Alexander back in March and heavily recruiting him since.
Fowler added that Alexander didn't agree to a deal before his visit, but he signed after he "had great chemistry with everybody" in the Under Armour Performance Center.
The Baltimore Sun's Brian Wacker previously reported that Alexander was being recruited by "about a dozen teams." ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Carolina Panthers, among others, were offering more money than the Ravens.
The Ravens have a baker's dozen former first-round picks on the roster with the addition of Jaire Alexander.
WR DeAndre Hopkins (2013, No. 27 by Texans)
Now on his fifth team in his career, Hopkins signed with Baltimore this offseason and is looking to win his first Super Bowl with the Ravens. Originally drafted in the first round by the Texans in 2013, the 33-year-old has plenty left in the tank and flashed during OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
LT Ronnie Stanley (2016, No. 6 by Ravens)
Stanley has been a staple of the Ravens' offense since the 2016 draft. He's been one of the league's best tackles for years, and that's why Baltimore rewarded him with a three-year extension this offseason to protect Jackson's blind side.
CB Marlon Humphrey (2017, No. 16 by Ravens)
Humphrey is now the longest-tenured defensive player on the Ravens' roster. With the addition of Alexander, Humphrey is set to play in the slot more, where he will help lead a Ravens defense that finished last year at the top of nearly every statistical measure.
ILB Roquan Smith (2018, No. 8 by Bears)
The Ravens acquired Smith via trade in 2022, and it's been a home run addition ever since. Since joining the Ravens via trade in 2022, Smith has fit in seemingly in Baltimore and has been the leading tackler on the Ravens each of the past two years.
CB Jaire Alexander (2018, No. 18 by Packers)
Signed by the Ravens Wednesday, Alexander became the 13th first-round pick on Baltimore's roster. The former Packers defensive back gives the Ravens a dynamic trio of starting cornerbacks and five first-rounders in the secondary. The two-time Pro Bowler is yet another premier addition for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
QB Lamar Jackson (2018, No. 32 by Ravens)
The Ravens traded up to select Jackson with the last pick of the 2018 draft, and seven years later, that's viewed as one of the biggest bargains in draft history. The two-time MVP has made Baltimore a Super Bowl contender year after year. Now equipped with his best arsenal of targets yet, plus Derrick Henry, Jackson is primed for another stellar campaign.
WR Rashod Bateman (2021, No. 27 by Ravens)
After being limited by injuries in his first two seasons, Bateman burst onto the scene in 2024 with 756 yards and nine touchdowns. He signed a three-year extension with the Ravens earlier this month and has enjoyed flipping the narrative on receivers drafted by Baltimore.
OLB Odafe Oweh (2021, No. 31 by Ravens)
Oweh had a career-high 10 sacks last season and is aiming to set a new career mark this season after bulking up. The 2021 first-round pick added 20 pounds this offseason and is one of several pass rushers who can get to the quarterback. In a contract year, Oweh has even more incentive to be a wrecking ball for opposing offensive lines.
S Kyle Hamilton (2022, No. 14 by Ravens)
Hamilton has lived up to the hype of a top 15 pick, garnering two All-Pro selections while still playing on his rookie contract. A Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Hamilton is already one of the league's premier and most versatile safeties.
C Tyler Linderbaum (2022, No. 25 by Ravens)
The Iowa product has been a brick wall in the middle of the offensive line. While the Ravens didn't pick up the fifth-year option on Linderbaum, the team is undoubtedly looking to extend its star center and two-time Pro Bowler to keep its offensive production intact.
WR Zay Flowers (2023, No. 22 by Ravens)
Flowers is only two years into his career, but he seems to be well-equipped for a long and productive time in the league. The Boston College pass-catcher became the first Ravens wide receiver in franchise history to receive a Pro Bowl nod last season after recording 1,059 yards and four touchdowns on 74 receptions.
CB Nate Wiggins (2024, No. 30 by Ravens)
The Clemson product had an impressive rookie campaign. Now, 10 pounds heavier, Wiggins is looking to build on his first season and become one of the league's top cornerbacks.
S Malaki Starks (2025, No. 27 by Ravens)
Starks is the most recent first-round selection for the Ravens. The Georgia product has begun his crash course in the Ravens' defensive scheme and has already drawn rave reviews from the coaching staff.
Winners From Mandatory Minicamp
Minicamp for the Ravens concluded last week, and pundits have since provided insight into some position battles. Of the few starting role competitions up for grabs, the current leaders were recognized by the coaching staff and media.
OL Andrew Vorhees
"Vorhees presumably entered the spring with Ben Cleveland as his top competitor for the starting job, and that's probably still the case," Pressbox’s Bo Smolka wrote. "Rookie third-round pick Emery Jones, a tackle at LSU who was a possible candidate at left guard, was sidelined all spring by a shoulder injury, and Harbaugh said as minicamp ended that Jones is unlikely to be ready to practice at the start of training camp. That probably closes the door on him as a Week 1 option."
"Last season, Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele began the season at left and right guard, respectively, before Vorhees lost his job in part due to an ankle injury," Wacker wrote. "With both healthy, they'll be the front-runners to start there again this season, though Harbaugh stopped just short of guaranteeing it."
S Sanoussi Kane
"Kane could be ready to take [Ar'Darius Washington's] place," Smolka wrote. "A seventh-round pick out of Purdue last year, Kane appeared in 15 games as a rookie but played just a handful of defensive snaps. This spring, he has looked confident patrolling the back end in full-team periods, and [Defensive Coordinator Zach] Orr and the Ravens increasingly appear to trust him."
The 53-man roster
"It's still too early to project what the Ravens' 53-man roster will look like, especially given the specter of inevitable injuries during training camp. But perusing the current 91-man roster, there simply are not a lot of openings," Wacker wrote. "Add [all the key starters and players], and that's 52 spots already. … Even if some players start the year on the injured list, there simply aren't that many openings. It could make for a relatively quiet training camp, but that would also be a good problem to have."
Should the Ravens Begin Considering a Successor for Derrick Henry?
Derrick Henry's first season with the Ravens was a complete success. He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (16) and rushed for 1,921 yards. And while Henry has stiff-armed Father Time thus far, PFF’s Trevor Sikkema recently considered if the Ravens have his successor.
"Henry earned the highest PFF rushing grade of his career (93.1) during his age-31 season," Sikkema wrote. "He signed a contract extension that added two more years to his deal, but we know how it goes with running backs — when they decline, they often do so quickly. The question is: Is Henry's successor on the roster?
"Justice Hill has been more of a third-down back and is approaching 30 years old himself. Keaton Mitchell looked great in 2023, leading the league in yards after contact per attempt (5.68), but tore his ACL late in the year. Rasheen Ali has yet to get significant time in the rotation."
As Sikkema noted, Hill is set to turn 28 years old this season and would turn 30 the season Henry's two-year extension ends. Ali may be on the roster bubble this training camp, as Wacker noted there are so few spots available. But considering Henry's performance last season and the Ravens' positioning themselves for a Super Bowl in 2025, it's a bit early to start thinking about life after Henry.
- PFF graded Zay Flowers a top three wide receiver for "wide screen" and "in" routes. Rashod Bateman graded No. 3 for "corner" routes.
