The funny thing is I didn't even intend to be critical of the trade or at least not overly critical just looking at it in hindsight and saying damn that one kind of sucked didn't it or at least so far it does.
You're right this year will tell for sure, if he stays healthy and plays at a probowl level it wont matter much what we gave up.
I just dont see how you can see the alexander deal while noting the similarities between the two players situations and not think patience would have suited us better while also noting that its ok we took a shot.
If we had given up some draft picks for alexander last year and taken on his contract it very well could have been lattimore who was released this year and signed with the ravens for peanuts.
All i was trying to suggest is that right now (especially after the alexander signing) we have a little egg on our faces for what we gave up for lattimore, hopefully the narrative changes this year.
I think that in retrospect, you are probably right. I'd rather have had the picks and the salary cap and Jaire, if we were deciding today.
The difference in my sentiment is that the decision to trade for Lattimore was made during the season, when we were trying to make a run, and Jaire wasn't available. For so long, I'd watch teams, and especially rival teams in our conference, take big trade swings. Like trading for AJ Brown, or moving around in the draft, or just generally be aggressive, while we had our feet stuck in the mud. Sometimes those traded or signings don't work out, Like trading for Jahan Dotson, or signing Bryce Huff. The team saw that we had a chance last year, if we could fix the secondary, and they took a swing. We were one game from the Super Bowl. I don't think it was a bad decision, even though so far, it looks questionable. And Lattimore, while he really wasn't good, was miles better than BSJ. I just don't think we make the NFC Championship game with BSJ outside.
And, I think Jaire might just be cooked. If he wasn't, he would have been signed by someone for more than 4 million. How much did the other FA CB's sign for in the offseason?
Also, I think Lattimore is a better scheme fit. He's a big, physical CB that can man up bigger WR's and can also make plays in the running game.
All of that being said, If Jaire rebounds and Lattimore doesn't, then your take is going to look pretty good.