One Vikings Free Agent Idea Would Have Backfired Fast
Back in June, the idea of the Minnesota Vikings signing cornerback Jaire Alexander made the beholder sound and feel like the smartest kid in the classroom. Fast forward five months, and Alexander is contemplating retirement.
One rumored Vikings free agent target looked good on paper but would’ve created more problems than solutions — and hindsight proves Minnesota nailed it.
The 28-year-old recently found a new team after the Baltimore Ravens traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles, but suddenly, Alexander may call it quits.
Vikings Avoided the Jaire Alexander Mess
It all kind of worked out.
Alexander Steps Away from NFL; May Retire
The former Green Bay Packer is walking away, at least for a while.
ESPN’s Tim McManus wrote Tuesday, “Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Jaire Alexander has decided to step away from football in order to focus on getting right physically and mentally amid his ongoing recovery from offseason knee surgery, a league source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.”
“Alexander, 28, informed the Eagles of his decision Tuesday, a day after their victory over the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. He did not travel with the team to Green Bay for the game. The Eagles indicated that Alexander staying in Philadelphia was part of a plan they had in place both for his knee and for his acclimation to their defensive system.”
NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport added Wednesday morning via tweet, “The Eagles placed CB Jaire Alexander on the reserve/retired list, while activating CB Jakorian Bennett from IR.”
Until last weekend, most NFL onlookers had patted the Eagles on the back for a job well done in trading for Alexander. That praise was premature.
A Hot Rumor Mill in June
The Packers dumped Alexander on June 9th after weeks — perhaps months — of folks expecting the move. At the time, and still to this day, the Vikings’ cornerback depth looked questionable, so any alternative, especially someone high-profile like Alexander, seemed shiny and wise.
At any time in early- and mid-June, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could have engaged Alexander about a free-agent contract, but nothing ever materialized. Purple fans know Alexander well from his Green Bay days, and the same crowd always welcomes a turncoat.
But on June 18th, Alexander signed with the Ravens, ending the hypothetical Vikings flirtation with Alexander. The rumor was palpable for weeks, though.
No Impact in Baltimore
There were signs.
Alexander emphatically did not take off in Baltimore. He appeared in just two games, played 61 snaps, was targeted by opposing quarterbacks five times, and those men completed all five passes with Alexander in coverage.
Just like the end of his Packers tenure, Alexander seemed oddly dog-housed by his Baltimore coaching staff, and the once splashy signing for Baltimore rendered virtually no result whatsoever.
So, the Ravens traded him 11 days ago.
The PHI Trade
On November 1st, NFL.com’s Christian Gonzales wrote, “The Eagles have bolstered their secondary once again. Philadelphia is acquiring two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Ravens in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round selection, the teams announced on Saturday afternoon.”
“In a rare Saturday in-season trade, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman continues to make moves to upgrade his 18th-ranked scoring defense. It marks the third trade during the 2025 NFL season for the Eagles. Philadelphia acquired running back Tank Bigsby from the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 8. Roseman’s second trade was for another veteran cornerback, Michael Carter II, from the Jets just a couple days ago.”
Alexander was supposed to be on deck for a revival with the champs. Instead, Roseman conducted a rare swing and miss, at least for now.
More on the Split/Retirement
The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini and her colleagues noted Tuesday, “The Eagles viewed Alexander as a low-risk acquisition, but the modest cost of the trade indicated that expectations were within reason. Alexander had an opportunity to push his way up an unsettled depth chart, although even he suggested there were no guarantees of playing time.”
“He was supposed to compete with Adoree’ Jackson, Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett for snaps on the outside, opposite Quinyon Mitchell when Cooper DeJean remained in the slot. Jackson started Monday against Green Bay. Bennett is due to come off injured reserve this week.”
For about three seasons from 2020 to 2022, Alexander represented a Top 5 cornerback.
Russini added, “There was intrigue when Alexander did not travel with the Eagles to Green Bay. It sounded like the Eagles wanted to give him a chance to get healthy and acclimate to the defense, although Tuesday’s news suggests there might have been more to his absence. This is an about-face from the excitement Alexander expressed in the locker room last Tuesday upon coming to Philadelphia.”
“He expressed a desire to ‘prove to myself that I can be what I know I am’ and suggested he was healthier than he had been all season. Alexander was born in Philadelphia, and his family remains Eagles fans.”
Unless he unretires and resurges, Alexander’s career faceplant occurred at age 27 — when most NFLers are in their physical and mental prime.
You must be logged in to post a comment.