{"id":11515052,"date":"2025-06-20T05:00:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T09:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/?p=11515052"},"modified":"2025-06-19T15:27:20","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T19:27:20","slug":"mike-preston-ravens-jaire-alexander-risky-signing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/2025\/06\/20\/mike-preston-ravens-jaire-alexander-risky-signing\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Preston: For Ravens, Jaire Alexander is worth the gamble | COMMENTARY"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ozzie Newsome retired as Ravens general manager in 2018, but his mantra of \u201cright player, right price\u201d is still at the core of how the team approaches free agency.<\/p>\n

It was evident Wednesday when Baltimore signed former Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander<\/a> to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million.<\/p>\n

Before everyone starts buying tickets for Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, California, here is my rub: Alexander hasn’t been available lately.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old has played just 16 games, including the playoffs, over the past two seasons because of a series of ailments \u2014 quadriceps and knee injuries last year, back and shoulder injuries the year before that. He played in just five games in 2021, a season sandwiched between his past two fully healthy seasons, during which he made the Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro each year.<\/p>\n

If he plays well (and is available), he could be the next Marcus Peters, a disgruntled cornerback the Ravens acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 before he wore out his welcome after the 2022 season. Or he could be the next Marcus Williams, the highly paid safety who played in only 32 games over three seasons because of injuries and poor play.<\/p>\n

Which Marcus will show up?<\/p>\n

No one knows, but Alexander is worth the gamble. It\u2019s a textbook signing of a veteran to a salary cap-friendly deal. Top-tier cornerbacks are making about $25 million per year. The Ravens might be getting one who is still in his prime, despite his injury history.<\/p>\n

Here is another reason for optimism: Since changing their strength and conditioning coaches in 2023, the Ravens have been one of the healthiest teams in the postseason.<\/p>\n

So, the move to Alexander makes sense. If he returns to his 2020 and 2022 form when he was one of the best cornerbacks in the game, the Ravens have a luxury at the position. Baltimore had a glaring weakness a year ago on the back end and ranked 31st out of 32 teams by allowing an average of 244.1 passing yards per game, though the unit turned a corner in the second half of last season.<\/p>\n

The addition of Alexander allows the Ravens to start 2024 first-round draft pick Nate Wiggins at one corner spot and keep Marlon Humphrey inside over the slot receiver.<\/p>\n