2025 NFL Draft prospect profile – Darius Alexander, iDL, Toeldo

Could Alexander start next to Dexter Lawrence?

A look around the interior defensive line board for the 2025 NFL Draft reveals a couple things.

First off, this is a deep and talented iDL class. Second, most of the many talented defensive tackles in this are from massive powerhouse schools. So it’s a mark of just how intriguing he is that Darius Alexander of Toledo is competing with prospects from Michigan, Ohio State, and Ole Miss, while not looking out of place at all.

Alexander is a powerful defensive tackle with good length and great athletic ability. There’s little subtlety to his game, but he can do almost anything asked of a defensive tackle.

Could he be a running mate for Dexter Lawrence on the New York Giants defensive line?

Prospect: Darius Alexander (9)
Games Watched: vs. Western Kentucky (2024), vs. Miami (Ohio) 2024, vs. Bowling Green (2024), vs. Akron (2024)

Measurables

Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football

Strengths

Best traits

• Play strength
• Leverage
• Length
• Burst and explosion
• Long speed

Alexander is a long, explosive, powerful, and versatile defensive tackle prospect.

Alexander played out of a number of alignments in Toledo’s defense, lining up everywhere from 0-technique nose tackle to a stand-up rusher at a 7-technique. He’s best suited to rushing on the interior, though he should be able to play a 5-technique defensive end if necessary.

He generally keys the snap well and explodes out of his stance with good leverage and attacks into the backfield. Alexander is primarily a power rusher and has built most of his game around a very good bull rush. He does a great job of placing his hands, consistently winning inside leverage on offensive linemen. From there, he uncoils his hips and drives blockers back onto their heels – and into the backfield. Alexander understands how to chain moves together, and will add a push-pull, long-arm, or club move (paired with both an arm-over or a rip move) to his power rush.

Alexander is capable of collapsing the pocket as a pass rusher, as well as holding up to double teams or two-gapping. That allows him to create opportunities for his teammates as well as be a very capable run defender. He does a good job of diagnosing the run and is able to make plays off of his blocker.

Finally, Alexander also does a very good job of clogging passing lanes on his way to the quarterback. That seems to be a point of emphasis on the Toledo defensive line and multiple defenders had batted passes in the tape viewed. Alexander’s strength and length allowed him to keep one hand planted on the blockers’ chest plate while using the other to interfere with quarterbacks’ sight lines and passing lanes. He finished his career with 13 passes defensed, four of which came this year.

Weaknesses

Worst traits

• Lateral agility

Alexander is a powerful and explosive defensive tackle, but his lateral agility is lacking.

That isn’t terribly surprising given that he’s a defensive tackle, but it does limit him in some ways. Most notably, he can struggle to win quickly when using a more finesse-based rush. He doesn’t really have the ability to slip past blockers, which can limit his options when they’re prepared for his power off the snap. He can also labor some when asked to exchange gaps in stunts or twists, as well as not play up to his speed in back-side pursuit.

He can also find it a bit difficult to make plays on ball carriers when they’re just outside of his range and he has to change direction quickly.

Game Tape

(Alexander is the Toledo defensive tackle wearing number 9, with tape on the back of his arms)

Projection

Alexander projects as a starting defensive lineman at the NFL level.

He has the versatility to play from a variety of alignments as well as in a wide variety of schemes. Alexander could conceivably line up at any position in a 4-3 Under or Over defense, one or two-gap 3-4 front, or in a modern “multiple” defense.

Alexander might not be a dynamic pass rusher at the next level, but his explosiveness and power will make him a factor on every down and distance. He has the potential to be a problem for offensive lines for a long time.

Does he fit the Giants?
Yes

Final Word: A later first-round talent