Darius Alexander NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for New York Giants DL
The New York Giants selected Toledo DL Darius Alexander with the No. 65 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Darius Alexander has the potential to become a solid every-down defensive tackle at the next level. He's an impressive run defender who can defeat one-on-one blocks with his strength at the point of attack and can stay in his gap against double teams. As a pass-rusher, he has a solid swim move and can collapse the pocket when bull rushing, he fires off the ball.
That's part of how Alexander proved himself against a higher level of competition and stood out at the Senior Bowl. However, he looked quicker and more agile in Moblie than during the season. He tested well at the NFL Combine with a 9.14 RAS, so he's a better athlete than what was seen during the 2024 campaign.
Schematically, the former Rocket would be best as a 3-technique in even fronts. While he has the potential to start in year one or two, teams could view him as a low-ceiling type of prospect, given his age. No date of birth has been confirmed, but Alexander was a sixth-year senior and in the 2019 recruiting class, which means he'll be a 24-year-old rookie.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'4"
WEIGHT: 305
HAND: 10¼"
ARM: 34"
WINGSPAN: 82⅞”
40-YARD DASH: 4.95
3-CONE: 7.6
SHUTTLE: 4.79
VERTICAL: 31.5"
BROAD: 9'3"
POSITIVES
— Good size and long arms for an NFL defensive tackle.
— Takes on blocks with solid pad level and a wide base and is decent at absorbing contact to stay in his gap against combo blocks and double teams.
— Keeps his hands tight as a run defender, has the strength to win at the point of attack and create statements at the line of scrimmage against one-on-one blocks from offensive linemen.
— Can make tackles with linemen hanging onto him.
— Has a solid swim move that he can win with as a pass-rusher.
— When he gets off the ball and goes straight into the offensive lineman, he has the strength to collapse the pocket when bullrushing.
NEGATIVES
— Long strider and not explosive off the line of scrimmage, hurting his get-off.
— Has a habit of doing too much dancing at the line when bullrushing.
— Hips are a little stiff to clear his lower half and get clean wins as a pass-rusher.
— Needs to rush with more of a plan, could afford to add some countermoves to his arsenal.
— Lack of agility and foot quickness makes him susceptible to getting reached.
NOTES
— A 3-star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports
— Injuries: 2024 (Undisclosed, miss 1 game)
— 2024: Second-Team All-MAC; Named National team's top defensive lineman at Senior Bowl
— 2023: Third-Team All-MAC
GRADE: 7.3 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)
OVERALL RANK: 79
POSITION RANK: DL7
PRO COMPARISON: David Onyemata
Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder