Bengals took a closer look at one of the oldest players they could target in the 2025 NFL Draft
The Cincinnati Bengals have 21 players on their roster who are 24 years old or younger. They could feasibly draft someone older than almost all of them fairly early in the 2025 NFL Draft. Former Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander will turn 25 right around when his first training camp concludes on August 26. Cincinnati […]
The Cincinnati Bengals have 21 players on their roster who are 24 years old or younger. They could feasibly draft someone older than almost all of them fairly early in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Former Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander will turn 25 right around when his first training camp concludes on August 26. Cincinnati wanted to get to know more about him leading up to the draft.
The Draft Network's Justin Melo confirms the Bengals did host Alexander on a pre-draft visit.
Alexander enrolled at Toledo in 2019 and was redshirted his freshman season. The COVID-19 pandemic shortened his first year playing in 2020 and gave him an extra year of eligibility. He ended up staying four more years and eventually broke through as a starter in his final two years.
From 2023-24, Alexander produced 76 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. He also posted this production at 23 and 24 years old against fellow Group of 5 schools. Naturally, one could question if he simply started to see the fruits of his development at those ages, or he was simply older and more developed than his competition.
His dominance began to look validated after he outclassed his peers at the Senior Bowl. Players from all kinds of college programs couldn't match the practice tape Alexander was putting together, and his draft stock began to rise from the media's perspective.
All of this has led to Alexander being projected as a second- or third-round pick. The A to Z Sports Top 200 Big Board has him ranked No. 62 in the class with a day two grade attached to his name. That's when the Bengals would have to draft him if they want him.
Alexander is the fifth DT Cincinnati has brought in for a 30 visit over the last few weeks, a clear sign that if the club doesn't draft Walter Nolen or another interior player with the 17th overall pick, an alternative could follow in the next two rounds.
Interest is clearly there at the position, and Alexander is a worthwhile player to learn more about before the draft arrives.
Bengals 2025 Pre-Draft Visits: Tracking all the players Cincinnati is meeting with with leading up to the NFL Draft
A complete list of players visiting Cincinnati leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft.
