It didn't take long for former Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander to draw interest from other teams, and that extends to one of his college teammates.
Two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson played with Alexander in Louisville, and he is actively pushing for the Baltimore Ravens to sign the All-Pro cornerback.
"Go get him, Eric," Jackson said, referring to Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta. "I love all our corners, don't get me wrong, but go get him Eric."
Jackson added that he has spoken to Alexander about potentially signing with the Ravens.
A move would make sense for both sides. The Ravens are among the AFC's best teams but have struggled to overcome the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. Adding an All-Pro like Jaire, even with his recent injury history, would help close the gap.
It's a sobering reminder to the Packers, though, who also have Super Bowl aspirations, just how badly they botched this situation.
Packers' failure to replace Jaire Alexander may come back to haunt them in Super Bowl push
The Packers' mistake wasn't releasing Alexander. General manager Brian Gutekunst explained the decision, and it's hard to argue with it, considering Jaire's soaring salary and injury history.
Gutekunst's error? Not having a better Plan B.
He reportedly tried to retain Alexander on a revised contract, but when the two sides couldn't reach an agreement, the only option was to move on. Who replaces him? Nate Hobbs?
Hobbs is a smart addition to the secondary, make no mistake about it, but he isn't Alexander. The former Raiders cornerback adds tremendous value, especially given his versatility, but the Packers also lost three other corners in free agency. They needed to add Hobbs, regardless of Alexander's situation.
If anything, retaining Alexander would've allowed Hobbs to spend more time in the slot, which is his best position. We will likely see him on the boundary far more frequently now.
Why did the Packers wait until the seventh round to address the cornerback position (again)? Why weren't they more proactive in trying to add another veteran in free agency or via trade?
They still have options — Jalen Ramsey? But that would also be a risky move.
Alexander will soon find a new home. Maybe he'll join Jackson in Baltimore. Jaire signing with an AFC team and not providing immediate competition in the Packers' conference is close to a best-case scenario, but if he lands with a Super Bowl contender, it will only shine a brighter spotlight on Gutekunst's failure to solve the problem.