A chance at adding a star defender just slipped away. The Baltimore Ravens have signed free-agent cornerback Jaire Alexander to a one-year contract, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Alexander could have been the perfect answer to an Arizona Cardinals cornerback group in need of a veteran presence. Now, the Cardinals are set to rely heavily on youth at the position.
Jaire Alexander off the market for the Arizona Cardinals
When the Green Bay Packers released star cornerback Jaire Alexander earlier this month, seemingly every NFL team was rumored as a possible landing spot. The Arizona Cardinals were in need of a veteran cornerback after 2024 starter Sean Murphy-Bunting suffered a leg injury that will keep him sidelined for the entirety of the 2025 season.
Whether the Cardinals weren't interested in adding Alexander, or Alexander wasn't interested in joining the Cardinals, the pairing never picked up momentum. Instead, Jaire has signed with the Baltimore Ravens to join an extremely talented defense.
Alexander's contract with the Ravens is reportedly a one-year deal worth $6 million. According to Jordan Schultz, Alexander "had better offers but wanted to be in Baltimore."
The low value of the deal makes the missed opportunity sting even more. The Cardinals could easily have afforded to give Alexander a one-year deal worth double the amount that he signed for.
The Arizona Cardinals may have been turned off by Jaire Alexander's injury history. Alexander has struggled to stay on the field for the Packers, and teams like the Cardinals may have wanted a more reliable presence.
Still, Alexander has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL when healthy. He could have been the perfect mentor for Arizona's young cornerbacks.
Now, the Cardinals are set to rely heavily on youth in their defensive secondary. Presumably, their starting cornerbacks will be Garrett Williams, Will Johnson, and Max Melton. Garrett Williams is the oldest player in that group at age 24. In the absence of a contributing veteran, the Cardinals will need to see steady production from these young players.