Ravens predicted to acquire $84 million upgrade in bombshell trade with Packers

Fresh off a season in which the Baltimore Ravens sported one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL, the team should be doing all it can to upgrade the unit.

The Ravens let Brandon Stephens walk in free agency, which was pretty much what everyone expected after he struggled in 2024. The Ravens signed Chidobe Awuzie, who is a solid player but not someone who can be relied upon due to a shaky injury history that has seen him play in no more than eight games in three of the last five seasons.

With Super Bowl aspirations once again in 2025, Baltimore needs to do more at the position opposite budding star Nate Wiggins. Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox has the team doing just that in a proposed trade with the Green Bay Packers that lands cornerback Jaire Alexander in Baltimore.

• Ravens get: CB Jaire Alexander
• Packers get: Two 2025 fourth-round picks 

"Taking a flier on Alexander with a pair of mid-round picks—Baltimore has 11 picks in total—would be worth the gamble for the Ravens. Injuries have limited the 28-year-old to just 14 games over the past two years, but he's a quality starter when healthy," Knox wrote.

Once considered an elite cornerback, Alexander's stock has taken a hit the last two years because of injuries. He's missed 10 games in each of the past two campaigns, and he missed another 13 contests in 2021. Paired with the remainder of his $84 million deal, Alexander has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason.

When healthy, the two-time Pro Bowler has proven he can still make a big impact, as evidenced by his 56.7% completion rate and 86.9 passer rating when targeted last season. Alexander's 78.3 Pro Football Focus grade in coverage ranked 16th among all cornerbacks.

While the injuries are obviously a concern, Alexander would be an upgrade over the aforementioned Awuzie, who would provide strong insurance for the veteran cornerback if he fails to stay healthy again. Awuzie also has experience in the slot.

That said, there are a few problems with this scenario.

For starters, two fourth-round picks are too much for Alexander when you consider his injury history and big contract, which runs through 2026. If the Packers want a return even close to the one Knox suggests, they'd have to eat some money. It isn't clear if they're willing to do that, and if so, how much.

Green Bay taking on some of the remaining contract is also important because the Ravens simply can't afford Alexander as is. The team has just $11.4 million in cap space, which is just barely enough to get through the 2025 season before adding Alexander to the payroll.

With the Ravens having their sights set on a Super Bowl, adding Alexander should be on the table for them. However, the financial aspect may be what ultimately deters the Ravens from pulling off such a trade.