Why the Falcons never had a chance at signing Jaire Alexander

If there’s one area that should concern the Falcons the most, it’s the cornerback room, and when the Packers released Jaire Alexander, it presented a golden opportunity.

A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes were a formidable duo last season, and the hope is that one of Billy Bowman Jr., Clark Phillips, or Dee Alford can emerge as the starting nickel. But if Hughes or Terrell goes down, this group looks much more concerning.

Adding a former All-Pro like Alexander could’ve taken this defense to a different level. Despite missing 21 total games over the last two seasons, he’s a two-time All-Pro cornerback who is one of the best in the business when healthy.

It was worth the flyer for the Falcons if Jaire Alexander was interested, but that’s just it. I sincerely doubt Atlanta was on his destination list. This is where Raheem Morris was supposed to come into play.

The Falcons’ head coach was heralded for his ability to connect with players. This would’ve been the perfect moment for him to put on his recruiting cap and get an elite talent to Atlanta. However, let’s get real about why the Falcons never had a chance of signing Jaire Alexander.

The Falcons haven’t won a lot recently. In fact, we are closing in on a decade of losing seasons in Atlanta. The Falcons haven’t captured a postseason berth since 2018, and we haven’t finished with a record above .500 in that same span.

If a free agent doesn’t want the most money, which is common in these late-offseason signings, their priorities usually begin with winning. The Ravens have pretty consistently been championship contenders for 30 years. That’s considerably more attractive than Atlanta, which is just trying to get back to the dance.

Secondly, and it somewhat coincides with the winning, the Ravens have not only an established franchise quarterback, but Lamar Jackson is a top-five talent in this league. That will convince many veterans to join and even sign for less than they might with a team like the Falcons.

The Falcons are a team that is going to have to pay to play during the early stages of Michael Penix Jr.’s career. There won’t be many worthwhile free agents who are lining up to come to Atlanta until they start consistently winning and Penix proves he’s a franchise quarterback.