Bengals predicted to target former $84 million star for suspect secondary

The Cincinnati Bengals didn't exactly have the best pass defense in 2024, surrendering 223.5 passing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks (22nd in the NFL), which was a big part of their failure to make the postseason for the second year in a row.

Then, this offseason, Cincinnati decided to move on from starting cornerback Mike Hilton, who spent the last four seasons with the Bengals and played 64.9% of the team's defensive snaps in 2024.

Cincinnati's only addition to the cornerback room since they last stepped foot on a field was undrafted rookie Bralyn Lux out of Texas Tech. So, while they have three first or second-round picks expected to start at the position this year, they could still use some help.

Luckily for them, the Green Bay Packers released Jaire Alexander on Monday, and USA Today's Jacob Camenker identified the Bengals as a top landing spot for the cornerback this offseason.

"The Bengals struggled in coverage during the 2024 NFL season," Camenker wrote. "Part of their issue was they didn't have a clear-cut top cornerback, as Cam Taylor-Britt struggled to perform consistently and was benched at times throughout the year as a result.

Alexander would provide Cincinnati a player who has performed steadily when healthy. That's something the team could use after eschewing the cornerback position entirely during the 2025 NFL Draft."

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Alexander, 28, played collegiately at Louisville from 2015-17, earning Second-team All-ACC honors once before the Packers selected him in the first round (No. 18 overall) of the 2018 NFL draft.

Over his seven seasons in the NFL, Alexander appeared has appeared in 77 games (starting 76) and recorded 287 tackles (12 for a loss), 70 passes defensed, 12 interceptions, four fumbles recovered, three forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks. He also made two Pro Bowls and earned two All-Pro selections.

Unfortunately, Alexander has dealt with injuries in recent years, limiting four games in 2021 (shoulder), seven in 2023 (shoulder) and seven in 2024 (knee).

Alexander's most recent healthy seasons (2020 and 2022) were his Pro Bowl years, so that player may still be inside him, and if the Bengals are willing to take another financial swing, they could hit the lottery.

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