The Minnesota Vikings have done everything they can to ensure that J.J. McCarthy’s first year as a starting quarterback is successful. They have some of the NFL’s best weapons and a defense that should be in the mix to be a top-five unit for the second consecutive year. They also upgraded the offensive and defensive lines, and even the backfield got a lift with the addition of Jordan Mason.
Everything appears to be ready to go, except for the cornerback position. The Vikings made a few tweaks to the group, acquiring Isaiah Rodgers and former top-three draft pick Jeff Okudah during free agency. But with Rodgers’ limited starting experience and fellow outside cornerback Mekhi Blackmon coming off a torn ACL, Minnesota could be in need of an upgrade even with Byron Murphy Jr.’s return.
Just like last year, the Vikings will need a cornerback, and they have two premier options on the market. Jalen Ramsey is reportedly on the trading block with the Miami Dolphins, and the Green Bay Packers gifted some team a former All-Pro when they released Jaire Alexander on Monday.
So, if the Vikings are going to make a move, does Ramsey make sense? Or can the Vikings convince Alexander to be the next member of the Green Bay-to-Minnesota pipeline? Like any move, there are several factors to consider.
Ramsey has been the Vikings fans’ target for the past few weeks. For a Dolphins team that’s trying to quiet the noise around them, Ramsey’s personality and contract status through 2028 don’t fit into Miami’s long-term vision. At age 31, that makes plenty of sense. Still, Ramsey has shown he can be a productive cornerback in his 30s.
The track record is enticing. Ramsey ranked 10th among qualifying cornerbacks last season with a 76.9 overall grade and posted a 71.9 grade in coverage. His traditional numbers are even better. He allowed 46 receptions for 546 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions and five pass breakups on 65 targets last season.
Everything looks great until you look at Ramsey’s contract.
Ramsey is signed through the 2028 season and carries a $16.6 million cap hit this season. While such a hit is tolerable, the real questions begin next year when it goes up to $25 million. In the final two years, Ramsey’s cap hit jumps to $26.8 million in 2027 and $36.1 million in 2028. Three void years further complicate matters with $12.3 million in dead money due from 2029 to 2031.
The Vikings are in a good position to take on Ramsey’s contract this season with $18.4 million in cap space. However, they’d need to restructure his deal to keep flexibility for this year. The move would also create significant issues heading into next season. The Vikings are $53.7 million over the cap in 2026.
Those numbers will complicate any attempt to bring in reinforcements in the cornerback room and suggest the Vikings could be looking at a short-term hero rather than a long-term fixture. With this in mind, Alexander could be the cornerback they call.
Alexander has been a Vikings nemesis since the Packers took him in the first round of the 2018 draft. Still, fans have made exceptions for plenty of former Green Bay stars once they put on a purple jersey. When he’s on the field, he can be one of the most productive players in the league, posting an overall Pro Football Focus grade over 70 in each of his seven seasons.
Mix in the added opportunity to troll Packers fans without selling your soul to Aaron Rodgers, and Alexander could be the perfect candidate to bounce back with a healthy season. Still, his health is a concern. Alexander has been injured for most of his career.
Alexander signed a four-year, $84 million extension with the Packers in 2022, and it was just a small reason his tenure in Green Bay came to an end. A bigger issue was his availability. He missed 34 games over the past four seasons due to injury or suspension. Some in the Packers organization felt he could have played through some injuries. Still, that didn’t stop the team from offering an 11th-hour, incentive-laden deal that Alexander turned down.
There’s a chance that Aaron Jones is on the phone trying to get Alexander to come to Minnesota as you read this, and there’s a good reason for that. At 28, Alexander is younger than Ramsey and could come with a shorter-term deal that rehabs his value and gives him a chance to get paid heading into next season. While plenty of options are available, working with Brian Flores and this defense is a good way to rehab his image and give the Vikings the help they need in the secondary.
Still, there’s also the chance Alexander wants his payday now, which could lead the Vikings to roll with what they have. Ramsey or Alexander would work from an on-field standpoint. However, they need to work out the off-field baggage to land either player and make a strong defense even stronger.