The Philadelphia Eagles made their second cornerback trade of the week when they acquired Jaire Alexander from the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a swap of a sixth-round pick and a seventh-round pick. While many Eagles fans were hoping for a trade for a pass rusher, especially after the Michael Carter acquisition earlier in the week, general manager Howie Roseman surprised the fanbase once again by trading for a player who has fallen out of favor in his previous stop.
On paper, taking a flier on Alexander makes sense. The Eagles have a track record of reviving the careers of players who are on the decline. They didn't have to give up anything of significant value in the trade, either. At the same time, one has to wonder whether it would have been a better move to go the free agency route instead, especially with Stephon Gilmore still available.
Eagles Should Have Gone the FA Route Instead of Jaire Alexander
Alexander is a household name in the NFL and is a two-time Pro Bowler. Yet, at this point, his reputation is way ahead of his on-field impact. He continues to deal with injury issues after missing most of training camp with a knee ailment. He missed 20 games in total in his last two seasons with the Packers. This season, he has not been good even when he has been available. In fact, he was a healthy scratch in five games already.
The 28-year-old has only played in two games and 61 defensive snaps so far. In these appearances, he has allowed five catches in five targets for a 118.8 passer rating allowed in coverage, receiving a miserable 36.9 defensive grade and a 31.0 coverage grade on Pro Football Focus. Did the Eagles really need to give up any draft capital, however little it may be, to acquire a player of this caliber?
Gilmore, on the other hand, wouldn't have cost anything and has fewer question marks surrounding him than Alexander. He has been healthier and more reliable, despite being significantly older. He hasn't missed more than two games in a season over the last three years and has consistently been productive, unlike Alexander.
Perhaps the Eagles see Alexander as a depth piece and aren't planning on relying on him too much. However, Philadelphia needed a clearer upgrade over the likes of Kelee Ringo and Adoree' Jackson. If, after the acquisitions of Carter and Alexander, the best options on the outside are Ringo or Jackson, then the Eagles will have failed at the trade deadline.