From the outside looking in, cornerback was considered the Eagles’ biggest need ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
Apparently, it looked the same way from the inside looking out.
That’s why general manager Howie Roseman spent the bye week adding two players to the cornerback position with the second one coming Saturday night when the team acquired former second-team All Pro Jaire Alexander from the Baltimore Ravens.
Alexander does have a history with Philadelphia fans. During the 2022 season when he was with the Green Bay Packers, Alexander got into an exchange with Eagles fans at Lincoln Financial Field during which he was photographed giving the double-bird salute after coming out of a game with an injury.
The Eagles also got a seventh-round pick in the 2027 draft from Baltimore in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 draft.
The deal comes three days after the Eagles acquired Michael Carter II from the Jets.
The additions of the two cornerbacks leaves defensive coordinator Vic Fangio with a number of decisions to be made at cornerback with the only certainties being that Quinyon Mitchell will remain the No. 1 cornerback and Cooper DeJean will remain a prominent piece of the secondary whether he becomes a full-time outside corner or remains as the team’s primary cornerback.
Alexander, 28, was in his first season with the Ravens after playing seven seasons for Green Bay. He was a second-team All Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2020 and 2022 with the Packers, who selected him 18th overall in the first round of the 2018 draft out of Louisville.
Alexander signed a one-year deal with the Ravens in June, but he played in just two games and was a healthy scratch five times. In seven seasons with Green Bay, he played in 78 games, including 76 starts, and had 12 interceptions. He was limited to seven games last season by a torn PCL in his right knee.
The Eagles have been unsettled at the outside cornerback spot opposite Mitchell since the start of the season with the trio of Kelee Ringo, Adoree’ Jackson, and Jakorian Bennett all getting playing time.
DeJean has been playing outside cornerback in the Eagles’ base defense, but moved to the slot cornerback position whenever the Eagles have used five or six defensive backs. DeJean has played 103 snaps outside and 329 in the slot so far this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Ringo has started two games and played 210 snaps at outside cornerback and Jackson has started three games and played 181 defensive snaps. Bennett has only played 21 defensive snaps, but he has missed five games with a pectoral injury.
Alexander has played primarily at outside cornerback during his career with 3,902 snaps at that position and just 338 snaps in the slot.
Carter, on the other hand, played 2,212 snaps in the slot and just 46 on the outside during his five seasons with the Jets.
The Eagles obtained Carter and a 2027 seventh-round pick in their trade with the Jets, who received wide receiver John Metchie and a 2027 sixth-round draft pick.
The NFL trade deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The Eagles also placed edge rusher Azeez Ojulari and safety Marcus Epps on injured reserve Saturday.
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