Lamar Jackson Gets His Wish With Latest Ravens Signing

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has the former teammate he wanted in free agency when cornerback Jaire Alexanders signed on June 18.

Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens is interviewed after the Ravens defeated the Cleveland Browns 35-10 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md., on Jan. 4, 2025. Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

The Baltimore Ravens made one of the most satisfying signings of the offseason on June 18, especially from quarterback Lamar Jackson’s standpoint.

Jackson will reunite with former college teammate Jaire Alexander, a free agent cornerback who came over from the Green Bay Packers after a June 9 release. Alexander and Jackson played together at Louisville between 2015 and 2017.

Jackson lobbied for Alexander before Wednesday’s signing with a public plea to Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta. Alexander played the first seven seasons of his career with the Packers where he made two Pro Bowls and second team All-Pro twice.

“Go get him, Eric! I love all of our corners, don’t get me wrong, but go get him, Eric,” Jackson interjected during Tuesday’s press conference.

Jackson, who has been a superstar with the Ravens for seven seasons, confirmed that he really had lobbied with DeCosta regarding Alexander. The three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler ironically came after Alexander in the 2018 draft, but Alexander has been effective as pass defender with 70 pass deflections and 12 interceptions in his career.

“Yeah, I hit him up but you never know with Jaire. That’s my boy, man,” Jackson said.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh noted that it was a win-win for Jackson and the team. Baltimore has talent on a secondary that will only get stronger, and that could give Jackson and the offense more opportunities, too.

“It made Lamar happy. I think it made everybody happy,” Harbaugh told reporters on Wednesday. “It was an opportunity to become a better team today.”

Baltimore needed a boost of veteran talent in Alexander after finishing 31st in the league for pass defense. Alexander has missed 34 games since 2021 due to injury but he’s effective when he plays amid 287 career tackles.

The Ravens also addressed defensive back issues with the hire of Chuck Pagano as the position coach. Baltimore also drafted safety Malaki Starks out of Georgia with the No. 27 pick.

Alexander and Starks now give the Ravens five former first-round picks in the defensive backfield. Safety Kyle Hamilton and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins.

“A quote that’s never been said and probably will never be said in NFL history is: ‘We’ve got too many corners who can cover,’” Humphrey told reporters on Wednesday. “I think that’s a great problem to have.”

Hamilton relishes the addition of Alexander and what that can do for the Ravens secondary. Baltimore gave up 244.1 yards per game and 27 touchdowns overall in 2024.

“He’s been one of the best in this league since he got in it,” Hamilton told reporters on Wednesday. “To have anybody like that, especially as a DB, that’s super valuable.”

Green Bay let Alexanders go amid injury issues and cost. Alexander had a four-year, $84 million deal with the Packers, which he still had another two years remaining.

Lamar Jackson is on a Mission

Jackson is determined to end the 2025 season differently than how the 2024 campaign ended after a tight loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round.

“We’re going to bounce back,” Jackson told reporters on Tuesday. “And when we come back, I feel like we’re going to have vengeance on our mind.”

Jackson had another MVP-caliber season but he couldn’t lead the Ravens to the Super Bowl again, which has been a downside of his otherwise successful career. That said, playoff losses are the only thing that haunts him.

“I don’t think I get over any losses, to be honest,” Jackson said. “I got losses from youth football that still haunt me.”

The Florida native made his share of mistakes in the loss to the Bills amid an interception and fumble. While Jackson wasn’t alone in miscues for that game, he defended Ravens tight end Mark Andrews over the dropped two-point conversion pass.

“We wish we would have won the game,” Jackson said. “I wish I didn’t throw that interception. I wish I didn’t fumble. I wish the mishap with Andrews didn’t happen. But it happened.”

“It’s just a lesson learned. So next time, we’re going to do something better,” Jackson said.

After minicamp, that opportunity arrives in July with training camp and the 2025 season.