With just a few weeks to go until the 2025 NFL Draft, teams have begun to finalize their team needs. Free agency and trades allowed initial roster holes to be filled. Now franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs will attempt to strengthen the roster in late-April's draft.
For the Chiefs, adding to the trenches will likely be a focus point for their draft haul. Specifically on the defensive line, more options are needed, especially at defensive tackle.
Kansas City has brought in Jerry Tillery as an outside addition. Meanwhile, veteran Mike Pennel was re-signed by the Chiefs yet again. There will be plenty of strong options worth considering in a stacked defensive line draft class. And at defensive tackle, there are different play styles or sizes worth tapping into.
One name that could be of interest to K.C. is Toledo's Darius Alexander. Alexander really started to see more national buzz after his performance at the Senior Bowl. And at the NFL Scouting Combine, the Toledo defender still impressed with his movement skills.
What kind of positives stand out from Darius Alexander's game? Plus, how may he possibly fit in the current construction of the Chiefs' defensive line?
2025 NFL Draft Profile- Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
Age: 24 (when drafted)
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 305 pounds
Darius Alexander's strengths
The mix of strength and power from Darius Alexander allows him to affect plays in numerous ways. His ability to win with the bull rush forces interior offensive linemen to react more quickly and with better footwork. He knocked down blockers a fair amount with that bull rush attack. Elsewhere, Alexander can gain initial leverage with his sharp punches at the point of attack. There is no denying that he is certainly confident when it comes to battling with his strength.
Adding to that last point, Alexander offers the size that NFL teams love in the middle of the defensive line. He is a dense player who also has long arms. For instance, he measured in with 34-inch arms at the NFL Combine. He understands how to use that size and build to his advantage. Alexander looks to get on top of opponents, attempting to drive them into the dirt.
The overall athleticism for a player of this stature is quite exciting. It can help unlock many other opportunities for his teammates on the defensive line. Overall, Alexander is smooth and under control with his footwork. This allows him to be functional when using lateral mobility and straight-line speed. He even had a pick-six last season. Alexander can offer the flashiness that some other defensive tackles do not possess as athletes.
Finally, Alexander is truly a threat to rip through the wall up front due to his quickness and first-step explosiveness. It may not always be consistently timed at the snap. But when he gets rolling, Alexander has too much fire in his lower half to be denied.
Darius Alexander's weaknesses
When watching Darius Alexander, it was a bit stunning how many times he whiffed on prime opportunities. Chances to get stops behind the line of scrimmage or to get home before the passer released the ball were left on the table. More finishing and better tackling consistency will be needed for Alexander to reach his ultimate ceiling.
There is a bit of a late reaction in Alexander's game as well. He can be slow to hold his gaps and to get lower against inside runs. The defensive lineman also has moments where he appears to overthink his plan of attack, losing time and space in the process.
There are not many hand-counter moves in his game. Alexander loves to utilize a swim move to pair with the aforementioned bull rush. But beyond that, more diversity in his counters will be needed when playing at the NFL level. On the other hand, Alexander’s pad level and leverage can wane as the game goes on. Will he be able to work himself into a true three-down player down the line?
How Darius Alexander may fit in Chiefs defense
Darius Alexander likely profiles as a rotational piece early in his NFL career if drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have utilized numerous defensive tackles in that role under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. You also have the ability to mix and match your pieces up front when Spags is the guy running things.
Chris Jones has taken some snaps at defensive end beyond his reps inside. Charles Omenihu can also move around. If Alexander can offer that explosiveness to K.C.'s defensive front, it can deepen the amount of pressures Spagnuolo could dial up with all of those flexible pieces.
Alexander is simply a fit for the Chiefs for a few other reasons. This Kansas City regime has opted for stronger, heavy-handed defensive linemen like him. His size, length, and density thresholds are also not too dissimilar to recent defensive tackles who have played in the Chiefs' defense. Would Kansas City also benefit from the athleticism and quickness that he brings? That is definitely the case, given how many players have been re-signed as veterans rather than adding many younger options.