Story by
Minnesota Vikings Were Never Really Interested in Jaire Alexander
- Story by
- Minnesota Vikings Were Never Really Interested in Jaire Alexander
Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
This has been the busiest Minnesota Vikings offseason in recent memory. That's saying something too, since neither the current GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah nor the man who came before him, Rick Spielman, have been afraid to wheel and deal when necessary.
Yet, if there is one position on roster, outside of quarterback, where the Vikings seemingly have major question marks, it's in the secondary… specifically at cornerback. Their 2024 CB2 Stephon Gilmore is still a free agent, as is their former CB3, Shaq Griffin.
Advertisement
2025 Minnesota Vikings CB room could use some help… right?
That leaves the cornerback room with newly re-signed Byron Murphy Jr , along with newcomers Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah . Minnesota will also lean heavily on 2023 3rd rounder Mekhi Blackmon and 2024 UDFA success story, Dwight McGlothern .
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
So, unless you count Jeff Okudah — which you shouldn't since he was benched in Detroit before the Vikings picked him up for pennies on the dollar this offseason — the 2025 Minnesota Vikings have just one proven starting-caliber cornerback on roster, as they prepare for training camp next month.
That's why many thought the Minnesota Vikings would be extremely interested in former Green Bay Packers top cornerback, Jaire Alexander , when he hit the market a couple of weeks ago. But after a week or so scouting out some potential new homes, the 28-year-old former No. 18 overall pick landed in Baltimore .
Advertisement
No interest in Jaire Alexander?
So, what happened? Well, there was a reason why the Vikings were never mentioned in the same breath as Alexander, once NFL insiders started to get a better idea of what teams were calling on the 2x Pro Bowler… as opposed to who wasn't.
And as it turns out, according to a mailbag article at The Athletic, Vikings beat writer Alec Lewis , writes that Minnesota was never really interested in Jaire Alexander, because (a) he wouldn't fit in their locker room and (b) the Vikings insist they are content with the CB talent they already have on roster.
Were the Vikings one of the teams that lost out on bidding for Jaire Alexander? — Evan J.
No.
The Vikings' front office constantly explores creative additions. It's one of the tenets of how Adofo-Mensah operates: Rarely do they dismiss any options or opportunities. Alexander — and you can categorize Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a similar boat — was always a longshot. It's not just their locker room fit, but it's also the Vikings' belief in the cornerback room they currently have.
Related: Minnesota Vikings No Longer Babying JJ McCarthy
Advertisement
Throughout his seven-year NFL career, Jaire Alexander has proven himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the league, when he's invested. He has elite coverage skills, as evidenced by a yearly PFF coverage grade that hovers between 75-80, on average.
MN Vikings disinterest in Jaire Alexander had nothing to do with talent
His highest coverage grade came in 2020, at 91.1. In 2024, he posted a 78.3 coverage grade, which ranked 18th in the NFL among fellow cornerbacks, but was only average for him. Alexander's PFF grades are backed up by accumulating 70 pass deflections and 12 interceptions in 78 career games played .
JORDAN ADDISON COOKS JAIRE ALEXANDER pic.twitter.com/aZKYKyGB57
— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) October 29, 2023
In 2024 , Jaire Alexander's season was cut way short, due to injury issues and friction with decision makers in Green Bay . When the dust settled, he played in just 7 games, recording 16 combined tackles, 7 passes defended and 2 interceptions (one in which he returned for a touchdown).
Advertisement
Alec Lewis notes in his article that he wouldn't be surprised if the Minnesota Vikings chatted with Alexander's reps way early on in the process, as they usually check in on most notable free agents. But again, they were never really interested.
That does not mean the Vikings did not check in with Alexander's representation. Nor does it mean the Vikings will refrain from future additions, even in training camp. More than anything, it's a reflection of how they feel about their overall chemistry and talent.
My favorite Jaire Alexander memory as a Packer pic.twitter.com/TNRptkm2ut
— Thomas Sullivan (@Yfz84) June 10, 2025
Coaches and executives at TCO Performance Center have been very loud, both through their own public interviews and through various media insiders, that they feel good about their current crop of cornerbacks. Their disinterest in guys like Jaire Alexander and Jalen Ramsey is seemingly backing up that talk.
Related Headlines
