The Philadelphia Eagles stunned the NFL once again on Saturday with a surprising trade for CB Jaire Alexander. But with question marks over his health and recent production, what can the Birds expect from their new acquisition?
Alexander has hardly been the same player he was during his seven-year ascent with the Packers. A two-time Pro Bowler, the Louisville product was released this past June following a PCL injury in 2024 that made his large contract hard to swallow.
He signed with the Ravens ahead of the 2025 season, appearing in only two games and picking up five tackles. He let up a huge gain against the Bills in a key moment, and ended his brief stint giving up five catches on five targets, garnering a PFF grade of just 31.
A reclamation project is an understatement, but is it one the Eagles can undertake?
When healthy, Alexander is one of the league's best cornerbacks, and it's not like he's past his prime at 28 years old. Given the struggles on the boundary opposite Quinyon Mitchell, acquiring a corner with the upside of a lockdown DB is enticing, especially considering the price paid.
The Eagles don't need him to start right away. They have optionality following the Michael Carter move, and of course, the revolving duo of Kelee Ringo and Adoree Jackson. If Jaire isn't 100 percent, he won't be forced onto the field, and frankly, the more time he has to pick up the scheme, the better. It's not like the entire secondary hinges on how quickly a risky signing gets up to speed.
There's also the focus on sports science. Whether you love or hate Chip Kelly, his philosophies in this area transcended his chaotic reign. The Eagles were the NFL's second healthiest in 2024, and haven't had more than 10 players end their season on IR since 2021. If there's ever a team that can afford Jaire the time and the facilities needed to get back to his best, it's the defending Super Bowl champions.
The wildcard here, of course, is his fit in Fangio's system, which is like a hand in a glove on a Winter morning. He also overlapped with Eagles DB Coach Christian Parker briefly in Green Bay a few years ago.
This is a move that screams low-risk, high-reward. At the very worst, it's a cheap effort to bring in a player who still has Pro Bowl potential. If he doesn't reach it, he still has all the mental tools to help younger players like Ringo take that next step. At best, this could easily become one of the best CB tandems in football.
