Jaire Alexander might have picked situation over money, but the contract signed by the former Green Bay Packers cornerback reflects a weak market following his release and highlights the difficulties faced by the Packers in attempting to trade him this offseason.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Alexander signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. The contract is worth only $4 million and includes another $2 million in incentives, providing a $6 million max total for the two-time All-Pro.

Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the incentives are all playing time based and would max out at $2 million if Alexander plays only 50 percent of the Ravens’ defensive snaps in 2025.

Playing with former college teammate Lamar Jackson and for one of the best teams in the AFC were obvious draws for Alexander. But he was scheduled to make over $17 million with the Packers in 2025, so he’s taking a substantial pay cut whether he hits his incentive goals or not.

Attempting to find a team after free agency and the draft was likely difficult. But consider this: Carlton Davis and Charvarius Ward, two cornerbacks older than Alexander, signed deals in free agency worth $18 million per year, or triple what Alexander could max out at in 2025. Availability matters.

Considering his injury history, the Packers needed help from Alexander’s side to make a trade work. He was reportedly unwilling to adjust his contract to help complete a trade this offseason, and the Packers released him officially on June 9.

It’s possible Alexander was dead set on playing for the Ravens and wasn’t willing to facilitate a trade anywhere else. He almost certainly picked freedom and a chance to pick his next team as a free agent over a bigger payout in 2025. The end result was a fairly average one-year deal financially but also a chance to play with a friend on a powerhouse AFC team.

This is a low risk move for the Ravens at $4 million for one year and a chance for Alexander to rebuild his value with a healthy season. He’s missed at least 10 games in three of the last four years and is coming off a season-ending knee injury in 2024.

The Packers released Alexander just two years into a four-year, $84 million deal signed in 2022.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Jaire Alexander’s $6M deal with Ravens includes $2M in incentives