Ravens’ young core should keep them out of a potential Jaire Alexander sweepstakes

The Baltimore Ravens are a team with big aspirations for the year 2025. But they’re also a team that has a lot of juggling to do as they try to make the most of not only their upcoming season but the future. Baltimore has a lot of contracts that need tending to, extensions to negotiate, and a young nucleus of players to prioritize. Balancing the needs of the future versus the needs of now can be a delicate task, especially when temptation comes knocking.

With the news that veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander is hitting the free agent market, consider temptation knocking for the Ravens and general manager Eric DeCosta. Baltimore has plenty of assets in their secondary but the outside cornerback spot opposite youngster Nate Wiggins is something of a question. Marlon Humphrey has been at his best in recent years playing in the nickel and veteran Chidobe Awuzie is currently pegged to take the other outside position unless a youngster can wrestle the gig away. Awuzie is playing on a veteran minimum contract this offseason.

The alternative is to give in to the temptation to pursue a cornerback like Jaire Alexander. But there are a number of variables at play for Baltimore that should deter them from selling out to land Alexander.

The first and most obvious among them is Alexander’s recent injury history. This is a player who has missed double digit games in three of his last four seasons. Those issues have come with Alexander in the prime of his career and he’s now set to play this season at age 28. It could be argued that Baltimore has the right pieces elsewhere to bridge their secondary around a block of missed time for Alexander. But the durability trend is not headed in the right direction for the former Pro Bowler.

There’s also the cost and how prohibitive it could be in more ways than one. Alexander was rumored to have played a part in a potential trade this offseason falling through by being unwilling to take a pay cut to help facilitate the deal. And then the Packers reportedly offered Alexander an amended contract with a high percentage of incentive dollars — which the cornerback also balked at.