As the offseason progresses, the status of cornerback Jaire Alexander with the Green Bay Packers remains up in the air.
After three injury-plagued seasons in the last four, trade rumors have been swirling around the $84 million two-time Pro Bowler. According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, releasing Alexander is also on the table.
"I'm told there already is an understanding in place between the Packers and CB Jaire Alexander to come to an agreement on his roster and contract situation first, prior to an arrival for the team's offseason program, per league source," Anderson reported.
"The Packers have had exploratory trade talks with other clubs involving Alexander. Releasing him is also an option," she added.
One team that could have interest in Alexander is the Baltimore Ravens, who were recently proposed as a possible landing spot for Alexander by Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox.
"The Baltimore Ravens, who ranked 31st in passing yards allowed last season, could also have interest in Alexander. Baltimore didn't draft a corner before taking Bilhal Kone in Round 6," Knox wrote.
As Knox points out, the Ravens had one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL last season. Along with the aforementioned sixth-round pick, Baltimore also added veteran Chidobe Awuzie to start across from Nate Wiggins.
But that's hardly a sure option. After all, Awuzie has battled injuries in recent years, and has only played in eight games in three of the last five seasons and sports just one full season during his career (2019).
Alexander would give the Ravens more depth in the cornerbacks room, and he'd likely start, too, which would give Baltimore an impressive trio with Alexander, Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey. That would also push Awuzie to a depth role, where he'd be a fantastic backup option.
While that's all well and good, the Ravens' interest in acquiring Alexander will come down to the money. After all, the Ravens only have $11.1 million in cap space.
Alexander is set to account for a cap hit of $24.6 million, a price the Ravens simply can't afford. Not to mention, they won't want to pay that considering the question mark Alexander is.
In order for the Packers to make a deal work with the Ravens — or really any team, for that matter — they're going to have to pick up some money or Alexander will have to agree to a pay cut.
The problem with that idea is that, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, Alexander would rather be cut so he can pick his next team, thus, he "might not be willing" to help facilitate a trade by agreeing to a reworked deal.
That would actually be the more ideal scenario for the Ravens, as Baltimore would not have to give up any draft capital to get the veteran cornerback, who would also likely come fairly cheap on the open market seeing as how his stock is so low.
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