2025 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Toledo Defensive Lineman Darius Alexander

There is a lot to like with disruptive Toledo defensive lineman Darius Alexander. He’s productive, has a resume as a leader, creates havoc, and has a strong athletic profile. He’s also going to be 25 years old during the 2025 season and played for a smaller school. Might the Bengals pounce on him for defensive line help?

Have we harped on the Cincinnati Bengals’ need for interior pass-rush help enough? Probably not—which is why we’re taking a look at Darius Alexander from Toledo.

There’s a lot to like about the small-school product. He has good size, strong production, and performed very well at the Senior Bowl. Combine those traits with a high athletic profile, and it’s easy to see why Alexander could be on the Bengals’ radar on Night 2.

Cincinnati needs additional interior presence to complement the names already on the roster, and Alexander could be a nice fit. However, will the team prefer a bigger name from a larger school if they’re still on the board alongside Alexander?

Darius Alexander

• Height: 6’3 1/2”
• Weight: 305
• Age: 24 (25 when season begins)
• Year: Redshirt Senior
• Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
• RAS:

Background

Alexander was an incredibly productive high school player but didn’t receive offers from major programs. He landed at Toledo and became a highly valued member of their team over five years.

He redshirted as a freshman but began playing the following year. By 2021, he was a full-time contributor and truly hit his stride in 2023.

He racked up 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss over his final two seasons combined, proving himself to be a disruptive force. He also added four passes defended in each of his past two collegiate seasons, highlighting his ability to end drives in a variety of ways.

While other names may come to mind more readily in this year’s class, Alexander has caught the attention of analysts. Pro Football Focus has ranked him among the top interior defensive linemen in the class, projecting him as a likely pick within the first three rounds.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Despite coming from a small school, Alexander made a name for himself at the Senior Bowl. When he followed those performances with an impressive athletic profile in workouts, even more people took notice.

As previously mentioned, his stats point to a well-rounded, disruptive player. Alexander has a knack for frustrating offenses in a variety of ways, which is undoubtedly appealing to NFL teams.

However, Alexander’s age raises some questions. Even with his strong athletic profile, one has to wonder whether his success was partly due to “growing into his body” and overpowering younger players in lesser competition. The classic “floor vs. ceiling” debate comes into play with the former Rockets defensive standout.

Outlook

Alexander checks a lot of boxes for Zac Taylor. His athletic profile is one, but his leadership and statistical production are also highly coveted traits.

When it comes to the NFL Draft, Cincinnati has a strong track record of not only selecting players in Rounds 2–4 but also getting solid production from those picks. One might assume Alexander won’t last until Saturday during this year’s festivities—but stranger things have happened.

Alexander’s age, his production against smaller-school competition (including 2.5 sacks against UMass and Miami of Ohio last year), and the potential for continued growth based on his athletic profile are the big questions. Can he contribute right away against NFL-level talent?

Regardless, Alexander could be an exciting addition to the Bengals’ rebuilding defensive line. B.J. Hill and others could provide valuable tutelage to help get him up to speed.

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