Top Remaining Options for Cornerback-Needy NFL Teams After Ravens Sign Jaire Alexander

While things are typically quiet at this point in the NFL offseason, player movement doesn't end with the draft in April. A significant, albeit slower, wave of free agency unfolds after the draft and can yield some significant additions.

On Wednesday, for example, the Baltimore Ravens signed two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, whom the Green Bay Packers released on June 9. While the 28-year-old has battled injuries over the past two seasons, he's also been among the league's best cover corners when healthy.

Alexander's signing could potentially jump-start the cornerback market, which remains one of the most talent-rich in the free-agent pool. Baltimore may get a big boost from Alexander, and a few teams may ultimately regret failing to land him. However, teams that need cornerback help do have other options.

Here, we'll run down the top cornerbacks still available, what they can offer in 2025 and which teams should be interested in their services. Factors like age, injury history, past production, scheme fit and team needs were considered.

Rasul Douglas

AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

The Packers decided to turn the page on Alexander this offseason. During the 2023 season, they traded cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills.

At the time, that felt like a mistake by Green Bay, even though it did get a third-round pick back as part of the deal. Douglas had an immediate impact for Buffalo and allowed an opposing passer rating of just 38.6 in coverage in nine games with the Bills that season.

However, Douglas took a step back in 2024, allowing an opposing passer rating of 122.0 in coverage. Based on his most recent play, the Packers received solid value in the trade.

Douglas' lack of elite speed and his physical play style won't make him a perfect fit for every team. However, the 29-year-old (30 in August) possesses playmaking ability that is worth betting on.

With great play strength, strong ball skills and a 6'2", 209-pound frame, Douglas is a big perimeter corner who can out-position receivers and create takeaways in bunches. Between 2021 and 2023, he logged 14 interceptions and 40 pass breakups.

Douglas would be a solid fit for the Cincinnati Bengals, who could pair him with Cam Taylor-Britt to create a physical and formidable duo on the outside. Cincinnati ranked 21st in passing yards allowed last season and did nothing to improve its cornerback room in free agency or the draft.

The Atlanta Falcons also should take a look at Douglas, especially if he can be had at a bargain price. (The Falcons have only $5.3 million of cap space.) Atlanta ranked 22nd in passing yards allowed last season, and assistant head coach Jerry Gray previously spent time with Douglas as the Packers' defensive backs coach.

Logical Landing Spots: Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals

Kendall Fuller

AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith

Kendall Fuller has never been an elite cover corner or a Pro Bowl player. However, he has been a dependable starter with a good amount of postseason experience.

Fuller, who won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, has 104 regular-season starts and five postseason starts across nine NFL seasons. He made 11 starts for the Miami Dolphins in 2024 but missed time with concussions.

Pro Football Focus graded Fuller 75th overall among all cornerbacks for the 2024 season. Miami released him in the offseason in a cap-saving move.

Given his recent concussion history and the fact that he turned 30 in February, Fuller shouldn't command a lucrative, long-term deal. However, he's a starting-caliber defender who could help a team like the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas may need cornerback insurance early in the 2025 campaign, as two-time Pro Bowler Trevon Diggs is still recovering from knee surgery. Meanwhile, rookie third-round pick Shavon Revel Jr. is recovering from a torn ACL and recently suffered a setback, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

Fuller, who also has experience playing safety and nickel back, would also fit with the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona could use secondary depth after ranking 21st in net yards per pass attempt allowed last season, and Fuller's positional versatility would mesh with Jonathan Gannon's defense.

Logical Landing Spots: Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys

Stephon Gilmore

AP Photo/Melissa Tamez

Even at 34, Stephon Gilmore remains a viable NFL starter. He started 15 games for the Minnesota Vikings this past season and 17 games for the Cowboys in 2023. He's a five-time Pro Bowler who was also Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.

Gilmore is not the ballhawk and top-tier cover corner he was early in his career. However, he's still an above-average defender—Pro Football Focus graded him 94th out of 222 cornerbacks last season—with good ball skills (9 pass breakups in 2024) and a willingness to add run support.

Teams should view Gilmore as a starter or high-volume rotational corner, though he may only command a one-year deal.

Given the Cowboys' injury concerns at cornerback, they should have interest in bringing back Gilmore. They met with him in April, and while Gilmore's visit didn't lead to a contract, the Cowboys didn't dismiss the idea of eventually signing him.

"Well, we are always looking to make our roster better, which is what I would say about any player," vice president Stephen Jones said, per Garrett Podell of CBS Sports.

The Carolina Panthers should also be interested in bringing back Gilmore. The South Carolina product had a bit of a homecoming with the Panthers in 2021, his last Pro Bowl campaign.

Gilmore could provide a valuable bit of veteran leadership to a Panthers defense that is still rebuilding under third-year coordinator Ejiro Evero.

Logical Landing Spots: Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys

Mike Hilton

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Teams looking for a versatile nickel corner should have Mike Hilton firmly on their radar. The 31-year-old had the occasional lapse in coverage last season but was still one of Cincinnati's few consistent defensive backs.

Hilton has inside-outside versatility but is at his best in the slot, so some teams may view him as a nickel-only player. Even so, seeing him available this late in the offseason is quite a surprise. Hilton is one of the league's better slot defenders, can rush the passer and is always willing to mix it up against the run.

Pro Football Focus graded Hilton 23rd overall and first in run defense among cornerbacks.

While Hilton's market will probably be limited to teams in need of nickel help and/or those with an open playoff window seeking depth, he should find a home before training camps open next month.

The Bengals should be interested in re-signing Hilton, and the Cowboys could consider him as a replacement for departed nickel corner Jourdan Lewis. His best landing spots, however, may be with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders.

Hilton spent his first four seasons in Pittsburgh, and the Steelers appear to be all-in on the 2025 season after signing quarterback Aaron Rodgers. They should be interested in adding corner depth for the upcoming campaign, and Hilton would be an upgrade over second-year slot corner Beanie Bishop Jr.

The Raiders aren't expected to be contenders this season, but they're not looking for a lengthy rebuild, either. They didn't hire 73-year-old head coach Pete Carroll to win five years from now.

Hilton could add much-needed experience to the Raiders secondary and help fill the hole at nickel that was created when Nate Hobbs signed with Green Bay in free agency.

Logical Landing Spots: Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers

Jalen Ramsey (Trade)

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Now that Alexander is off the market, the Miami Dolphins might generate more interest in seven-time Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey. Miami and Ramsey agreed to part ways early in the offseason but have yet to swing a trade.

"We decided it was probably in the best interest for all parties to move forward," general manager Chris Grier told reporters back in April.

Trading for Ramsey would invite concerns. He'll turn 31 in October and has a sizable contract that could limit his tenure with a new team. Due a base salary of only $1.3 million this season, Ramsey will have a $10 million salary in both 2026 and 2027 before it jumps to $21.1 million in 2028.

Ramsey also has $49.4 million in dead money remaining on his contract, meaning the Dolphins would likely require a significant trade return that justifies taking the dead-money hit. That might only mean a Day 2 selection, but that would be a considerable investment if Ramsey is only viewed as a one- or two-year option.

Trading for Ramsey would make the most sense for teams ready to win now and those desperate for a high-end starter. The Los Angeles Rams, who traded Ramsey to Miami in 2023, fall into the first category and have considered reacquiring the two-time first-team All-Pro. However, another Rams-Dolphins deal involving Ramsey doesn't appear to be imminent.

"Definitely don't want to rule anything out because we're always open-minded to onboarding and acquiring quality players and people like him if we're able to do that, but there would be some obstacles that are real that are in the place of maybe preventing that from occurring," head coach Sean McVay said, per NFL.com's Kevin Patra.

Carolina, which could use a jump in Year 3 of the Bryce Young era, falls into the second category. It's worth noting that Panthers defensive backs coach Renaldo Hill held the same position in Miami in 2023, Ramsey's last Pro Bowl campaign.

Logical Landing Spots: Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams

Asante Samuel Jr.

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Asante Samuel Jr. is more of a risk-reward option than other players featured here. He was limited to only four games last season by a stinger issue that may not go away.

According to The Athletic's Daniel Popper, the stinger ailment affected both of Samuel's shoulders in 2024 and is something the corner was "born with."

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Samuel plans to play in 2025, but he underwent neck surgery in April and is scheduled for a check-up in July, "after which he will reconvene with several interested teams."

Several teams will be interested if Samuel is deemed healthy before training camp. He's had tackling issues and isn't the most physical corner. He has tremendous ball skills, though, is only 25 and showed a ton of growth before last year's injury.

Samuel started 16 games for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 and allowed an opposing passer rating of only 87.4 in coverage that season. He logged an impressive 26 pass breakups over his first three seasons.

Signing Samuel would make the most sense for teams willing to take a risk at cornerback. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be just such a team. Tampa was good enough to win the NFC South (again) in 2024 but ranked 29th in passing yards allowed.

Taking a flier on Samuel could make a lot of sense as the Bucs develop rookie corners Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish.

The Dolphins may or may not be playoff contenders in 2025, but they do need cornerback help with Ramsey on the way out and have already considered Samuel.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Miami reached out to Samuel in May. He could be a high-reward, low-risk option for a Dolphins team that has just $14 million in remaining cap space.

Logical Landing Spots: Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cap and contract information via Spotrac.