Adonis Alexander could be a very strong defensive back at the NFL level. Here’s what to know about him and how he could fit with the Redskins if they select him.
Supplemental Draft day is officially here. For the first time since 2015, at least one player is expected to be selected, and the talent in this year’s class may be unparalleled in comparison to years past. Some teams are going to get a shot at adding some quality talent to their roster, and there are a few solid defensive backs available.
One of them is Adonis Alexander. The former Virginia Tech Hokie would have probably been a Round 3 or early Round 4 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft had he entered. Instead, he opted to return to school before being declared academically ineligible. Now, he will be involved with the Supplemental Draft, and he could end up being a great value for whatever team lands him.
That well could be the Washington Redskins. They may not need a corner, but Alexander’s versatility and ties to the Redskins coaching staff could be enough to put him under consideration with a mid-round selection. Here’s a look at why.
Scouting Adonis Alexander
When watching Alexander on tape, it’s clear that he has the potential to be a playmaker. He has a nose for the ball, and that is part of what led him to grab seven interceptions during his three seasons with the Hokies.
Once Alexander sees where the ball is going, he quickly reacts and is able to move towards it. And thanks to his long frame, he is able to get his hands in the face of many receivers to make catching it more difficult.
Alexander’s game is more about physicality than it is about speed. He does have solid athletic ability, but his 6-foot-2, 199-pound frame allows him to go after players at the line of scrimmage and body up against them to make their get off challenging. Additionally, his strength and instincts allow him to be a good tackle, so he will be able to provide some run support for the team that drafts him.
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What Alexander lacks is speed and movement skills. His game is more predicated on physicality and thus, he would be a better fit in a system that focuses on jamming players at the line of scrimmage. That said, his speed concerns could be quelled if his instincts get better and he learns better technique. That is something that Torrian Gray, one of the men who helped recruit him to Virginia Tech, would be able to do.
Alexander has drawn comparisons to a former Redskins corner from WalterFootball.com’s Charlie Campbell. That would be former second-round pick, David Amerson. Here’s what Campbell said of that comparison in a recent scouting report.
"There are a lot of similarities between Amerson and Alexander. They are nearly identical in size, and Alexander has plus ball skills similar to Amerson (6-1, 205). They also can struggle with speedy, quick-twitch receivers, and giving up separation. Amerson was a second-round pick before becoming a journeyman. Alexander could have been a second-day pick if he had entered the 2018 NFL Draft."
While Redskins fans may not necessarily be happy to hear Amerson’s name come up, given his struggles in Washington, Amerson was considered to be a potential No. 1 corner coming out of school. And in the NFL, he has been a solid, albeit erratic, No. 2 man at various times in his career. If Alexander can prove to be more consistent than Amerson with a similar skill set, then he could become a very strong pro. He has the physical tools and ball skills needed to do just that.
How Alexander might fit with the Redskins
If the Redskins didn’t already have a solid group of young cornerbacks, it would be easy to justify why they should take a chance on Alexander. However, the presence of these other upside-based players may make it difficult for the Redskins to select Alexander.
As it stands, there isn’t a lot of room in the cornerback room for Alexander. The team has eight corners on their current roster and many of them are in their first or second seasons. They are going to look to prove themselves and while adding Alexander for competition might be nice, he may not make the roster as a corner. Washington would have to stash him on the practice squad. And if they did that, the supplemental pick could be seen as a waste.
Of course, there’s always the option of using Alexander at safety. He has the potential to be a solid backup there if he can refine his skill set. So, that should certainly be something the team considers when evaluating Alexander’s fit with the squad.
As I said in a piece from early June, Alexander should be on the Redskins radar for a couple major reasons. He has talent and also has ties to the Redskins organization.
"Alexander is a talented player who has experience working with [Torrian] Gray. He was a collegiate teammate of [Greg] Stroman. He’s a local product. Realistically, the Redskins could decide to take him and try to stash one of their younger players on the practice squad. Or, they could cross-train someone at safety to allow them to keep seven corners. Either way, Alexander should garner some consideration for the Redskins and if they deem him worthy, they could make him the team’s first supplemental selection since they took Jeremy Jarmon in 2009."
Even if Alexander may not have a natural fit with the Redskins, the team should select him if they think he’s talented. He could try his hand as a corner/safety hybrid, and if that works out, he could develop into a primary backup in the middle of the field. His versatility could be a weapon.
Next: Redskins - Scouting CB Sam Beal for Supp. Draft
The Redskins should definitely consider Alexander. Of all the potential supplemental draftees, he is the one that would be the best fit in Washington.