Why Howie Roseman believes Jaire Alexander can revive his career with Eagles

Eagles GM Howie Roseman spoke Tuesday about why he traded with the Ravens for CB Jaire Alexander.

By Reuben Frank • Published November 5, 2025

Jaire Alexander’s Packers career? Seven years, over 5,000 snaps, 15 interceptions, 75 pass breakups, two Pro Bowls, two 2nd-team All-Pro selections and four trips to the playoffs.

Alexander’s Ravens career? Two games, 61 snaps. 

Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman spoke Tuesday about acquiring Alexander, the one-time superstar cornerback whose career has been marked recently by injuries and declining play. 

"With Ja, I remember when he signed in June with Baltimore thinking what a great signing by them,” Howie Roseman said Tuesday. "It didn't work out the way that he wanted or that they wanted or he wouldn't have been available to us.”

Alexander, who never established himself with the Ravens, was available, and the Eagles shipped a 6th-round pick in 2026 to the Ravens for Alexander and a 7th-round pick in 2027 with the hopes that the 28-year-old former 1st-round pick can revive his career with the Eagles.

Eagles cornerbacks coach Christian Parker was with Alexander in Green Bay in 2019 and 2020, two of Alexander's best seasons with the Packers.

There’s no question the Eagles need cornerback help. They spent the first half of the season with Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson taking turns playing opposite Quinyon Mitchell and getting benched. They have Jakorian Bennett coming back after a stay on Injured Reserve with a pec injury and they also now have slot corner Michael Carter, acquired from the Jets on Wednesday, who gives Vic Fangio the option of moving Cooper DeJean outside.

So there are a lot of options. But how realistic is it to expect Alexander to help?

Roseman didn’t mention John Harbaugh by name but when discussing why the Eagles believe Alexander can contribute, he alluded to the Ravens’ head coach, who goes back to 2000 with Roseman. Harbaugh and Roseman were together with the Eagles from 2000 through 2007. 

"The relationship we have with Baltimore, being able to have honest conversations and understanding what he went through a little bit in training camp and getting back to health, obviously missed a lot of time last year,” Roseman said. 

"Then just really doing a deep dive on him and how successful he's been, what we thought of him last year when we were in Brazil playing (the Packers), and then for the first part of the year. 

"Then, having C.P., who was with him (in Green Bay) and getting to know the mindset of the player. Sometimes in this league, you acquire information, you watch everything and you feel like, ‘Hey, the risk is worth the reward here.’”

The risk is worth the reward because there is literally no risk. But there has been a clear decline in Alexander’s performance according to analytics.

In his first five years in the NFL, Alexander’s 78.1 defender passer rating ranked 10th out of 59 corners who were targeted at least 200 times. Over the last three years, his 102.2 rating ranks 111th out of 141 corners who played at least 50 snaps.

Alexander was limited to seven games by back and shoulder injuries in 2023 and seven more last year with quad and knee injuries. He was a healthy scratch in seven of the Ravens’ nine games before the trade. In the other two, he allowed five catches for 123 yards on five targets.

Can he turn it all around coming to Philly? Roseman believes he can.

"I think when you talk about (him) still (being) a young guy, knowing where his health is at now, feeling healthy, feeling good,” Roseman said, "We felt like the risk was worth the reward with him.”

NBC Sports Philadelphia

Why Howie Roseman believes Jaire Alexander can revive his...

Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman spoke Tuesday about acquiring Jaire Alexander, the one-time superstar cornerback whose career has been marked recently by injuries and declining play.

The question really is why did he hardly play with Baltimore? And why did he end up being a healthy scratch? Was it because he played poorly? Did he not practice very well? Did they see a player who is just washed and whose physical traits just aren’t there anymore? Hopefully not and hopefully he can find that form that made him such a good CB in Green Bay but I guess that feels somewhat unlikely?

2 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

The question really is why did he hardly play with Baltimore? And why did he end up being a healthy scratch? Was it because he played poorly? Did he not practice very well? Did they see a player who is just washed and whose physical traits just aren’t there anymore? Hopefully not and hopefully he can find that form that made him such a good CB in Green Bay but I guess that feels somewhat unlikely?

It was worth a late pick swap to find out.

Seems pretty unlikely that a corner is going to find the fountain of youth and reverse his career trajectory. That said, he is still fairly young, and everyone thought Slay was toast after our collapse season, and he came back to be great in our SB season. Certainly worth a pick swap to find out.

Agree, this trade is worth the risk.

I trust that Roseman, the eagles pro scouting department and the medical team did enough vetting to find value and make the trade.

I don't care why he didn't play in Baltimore.....If he's healthy and can give the eagles some solid play, it's another step towards a repeat championship. And that just what might be Howie's motivation.....

I don't expect them to resign Alexander.......they're going go draft another CB and continue to try to develop Ringo more......like time2rock and LacesOut said, this trade is easily worth the risk.

On 11/7/2025 at 10:58 AM, time2rock said:

It was worth a late pick swap to find out.

I agree because there is real upside. The fact he’s not traveled to Green Bay though despite looking (apparently) pretty decent in practice is a bit of a worry.

4 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I agree because there is real upside. The fact he’s not traveled to Green Bay though despite looking (apparently) pretty decent in practice is a bit of a worry.

I assumed that was more because he needs to get up to speed on the playbook.

EDIT: Zangaro posted this:

The veteran has officially been ruled out and will not face his former team on Monday Night Football.

The Eagles want to give Alexander some extra time to acclimate to the defense and are having him stay back in Philadelphia to focus on his knee recovery.

NBC Sports Philadelphia

Eagles rule out Jaire Alexander, who won't travel to Gree...

Eagles newcomer Jaire Alexander has been ruled out and will not face his former team on Monday Night Football.

They weren't likely to throw him on the field until he gets more comfortable with the scheme. But getting that knee as close to 100% is a legit reason too ... he will be much more valuable to us down the stretch run and into January.

Oh well...so much for that...

The ultimate overcome by events scenario.

[INSERT: SAD TROMBONE SOUND]