The Las Vegas Raiders have made bold moves this offseason, reshaping their identity under new head coach Pete Carroll and acquiring veteran quarterback Geno Smith. But one more piece could complete the puzzle—and that piece might just be Jaire Alexander.
Following his release from the Packers after a contract standoff, Alexander instantly became one of the top defensive free agents on the market. Analysts like Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus and Jacob Camenker of USA Today have both pointed to Las Vegas as an ideal landing spot. The logic is compelling.
Why Jaire Alexander Makes Sense for the Las Vegas Raiders—and Why the Time to Strike Is Now
Sikkema notes Carroll’s track record of building elite secondaries, including the Legion of Boom, and his reputation for managing strong personalities—something Alexander has in spades. “Don’t count the Raiders out,” he writes, especially given their current urgency to compete.
Las Vegas has already added former Packers corner Eric Stokes and drafted Iowa State’s athletic Darien Porter, but the unit still lacks a true No. 1 lockdown presence. In 2024, the Raiders posted the NFL’s worst team coverage grade (30.4), and their highest-rated corner in coverage, Jakorian Bennett, managed just a 61.0 score.
Camenker echoes the fit, pointing to Alexander’s ability to anchor a unit that includes a mix of unproven rookies and journeymen. While durability is a concern—Alexander has missed 34 games in four seasons—he remains effective when on the field, allowing just a 56.7% completion rate in 2024.
With $36.1 million in cap space, the Raiders have the flexibility to sign Alexander on a short-term, low-risk deal. Adding a proven corner could ease the pressure on Porter, give the team flexibility with other young defensive backs, and provide a veteran presence in a position group currently in flux.
The Raiders are clearly in win-now mode, and with Maxx Crosby leading a disruptive front seven, a stabilized secondary could elevate this defense into something dangerous. If healthy, Alexander could be the missing piece to bring Pete Carroll’s vision to life in Las Vegas.
Now’s the time to find out.