The Las Vegas Raiders’ defense underperformed in 2024, and the lack of talent was one of the main reasons head coach Antonio Pierce was fired. Despite the poor job, the secondary simply didn’t have enough talent to keep up with the top quarterbacks in the conference.
Now, in the final stretch of preparation for the season, Tom Brady’s franchise has the chance to sign a newly available cornerback — a two-time Second-Team All-Pro who was once the highest-paid at his position before injuries took their toll.
Raiders Predicted To Sign Jaire Alexander
At one point, Jaire Alexander was in the conversation for best cornerback in the NFL. With his athleticism, aggressiveness, and ability to shut down entire areas of the field, just three seasons ago, it would’ve been bold to imagine the player not finishing his contract with the Packers. However, injuries derailed his career, limiting him to just 14 of 37 possible games over the past two years.
Highly identified with Green Bay, the franchise tried to restructure his contract to keep him at a lower risk in case of injury, but the player didn’t like the move and asked to be traded. The Packers tried to find a team willing to make a deal but were unsuccessful. His story with the Packers ends with fans feeling grateful — but also wanting more.
Thank you Jaire Alexander☝🏽🥺
• 7 seasons in Green Bay
• 2x Second Team All-Pro Cornerback
• 12 career interceptions
• Numerous outrageous TV momentsA fan favorite, Ja will be missed 🏝️💰 pic.twitter.com/sKLfczhJE0
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) June 9, 2025
Now that he’s on the market and no longer carries the fifth-highest cap hit at the position, he’s expected to attract significant interest from teams making final roster adjustments before the season. And for the Raiders, signing him would make total sense when looking at their 2024 season.
Last year, the Raiders ranked 21st in the PFSN Defense+ metric, with one of the biggest issues being their inability to generate turnovers. The team finished 29th in turnover rate — an area where Alexander could contribute immediately.
He has 12 career interceptions, including five in 2022 — his best year so far — and has recorded at least one pick in seven of his eight seasons, as highlighted by Andrew Buller-Russ in his Yahoo Sports article. His instincts put him in a position to make big plays, and he even scored a pick-six in 2024.
In a USA Today piece, Jacob Camenker noted that the Raiders already signed Eric Stokes this offseason and could see Alexander as a more talented option who also shares chemistry with his former Packers teammate.
Brady isn’t playing games. The Raiders’ minority owner knows there’s a talent gap on this roster, but that’s no excuse to overspend every offseason. The opportunity cost to acquire Alexander is low — and the greatest quarterback of all time knows it.
With Pete Carroll now running the show and the defense in need of reinforcements, the move makes perfect sense. This cornerback room, although crowded, needs a veteran with more upside to fight in a division that keeps getting better every single year.