Patriots Draft Profile: Prospect Perfectly Fits Mike Vrabel’s Vision
The New England Patriots reportedly have a specific way they’d like to go about things in 2025.
Mike Vrabel and Terrell Williams will deploy some new defensive ideologies during their second stint working together, with the latter planning to bring speed and aggression to his front line. That brings us to the latest installment of our draft profile series.
Darius Alexander is the perfect fit in what we expect to be a new-look scheme.
How? We couldn’t be happier that you asked, because after watching this guy it has become abundantly clear that we need to let you all know how he fits the needs at One Patriot Place.
OVERVIEW
Alexander is your classic late-bloomer, having spent his first two seasons as a bit player for Toledo.
It’s unsurprising that he eventually broke out, though, because all it takes is opportunity for a freakishly strong, wildly explosive super-athlete to find success. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman placed him on the annual “Freaks List” for a reason, with his 400-pound bench press and insane explosive testing numbers serving as an incredibly rare combination — especially for a guy coming out of the MAC.
The Senior Bowl came calling after seeing what Alexander did over the last two seasons in particular, and he certainly didn’t disappoint at the all-star event. Alexander was successful on nearly every one-on-one rep he took, showcasing that he still has room to take on more responsibility at the next level while finding success in an early rushing role.
NFL SCOUTING COMBINE
Alexander didn’t blow anyone away at the combine, but his measurements did confirm what you could see on tape when it comes to length and the ability to get inside on blockers. It’s not like he had a bad day, either.
Height: 6′ 3 7/8″
Weight: 305 lbs
Hand: 10″
Arm: 34″
Wingspan: 82 1/4″
40-Yard Dash: 4.95 seconds
Vertical Jump: 31 1/2″
Broad Jump: 9′ 3″
3-Cone Drill: 7.6 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.79 seconds
Bench Press: 28 reps
STRENGTHS
Do you guys remember all that talk about Will Campbell and his arm length? Alexander, and the very few amount of guys who are built like him, are the reason why.
Alexander was built in a lab to rush the passer from the interior, possessing ludicrously long arms and a stout frame that allows him to successfully convert speed to power. Toledo deployed him from literally everywhere along the defensive line, which is the recipe for success for a modern-day prospect at his position. Kansas City Chiefs superstar Chris Jones has been the high-end comparison for a reason.
We can’t quite consider it a strength, but one thing that also bears mentioning is the fact that he’s shown improved situational awareness and playmaking ability as he’s gotten older. Why would anyone expect that to stop being the case?
WEAKNESSES
We can’t continue without answering one extremely obvious question.
Did he play anyone?
Toledo isn’t exactly known as a powerhouse, and that’s for good reason. Alexander hasn’t played against a ranked opponent since September 2022, and that matchup with No. 3 Ohio State was one of just two ranked matchups he took part in throughout his six-season collegiate career. So, no, not really.
Alexander could also use some work with gap integrity, and although there is expected to be less emphasis on that under this regime, it was a serious issue at points last season. You can’t just approach things with reckless abandon in the NFL, so that will have to change if he hopes to take on a legitimate role early.
HOW IS HE PERFECT FOR THE PATRIOTS?
New England is expected to be aggressive in free agency, with multiple outlets reporting that the offensive and defensive lines will be the main areas of focus. Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams were floated as the big targets, but with signing premium players in the trenches, you’d have to imagine the club would circle back around to build up the depth, right?
Alexander could be that depth piece behind Williams and (potentially) Christian Barmore.
If you’ve been following along with our mock drafts on “Foxboro Rush” you’d know that this man is a favorite of ours on Day 2. The Patriots could go anywhere with their draft as long as they follow through on their plans in free agency. We just think this direction makes the most sense.
You can’t sign one defensive lineman and expect the whole unit to improve. You can, however, sign an immediate impact player and supplement the spots around him with young, cost-controlled players who have the profile to potentially become stars.
If you’d like more individual profiles, check out our full series on NESN.com.