Adonis Alexander’s fit on Washington Redskins roster unclear

In the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft, the Redskins took a chance on Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander, reuniting him with Torrian Gray.

From a raw potential standpoint, the Washington Redskins were smart to stake a claim on Alexander. That isn’t to say that Alexander has through-the-roof potential. He’s not an explosive athlete. And his timed 4.60 speed (although John Keim noted that he could have ran faster, had he had a chance to train for it) is below the cornerback standard.

However, Alexander has unique traits that have led some cornerbacks to have success in the NFL. Cornerbacks don’t necessarily need to be blazing fast. There are other traits that Alexander has that bode well for him. Alexander is long and tall, standing at 6-foot-3, with 32 and a quarter-inch arms, longer than Richard Sherman. He’s notably physical, with a penchant for press coverage, and judging by his traits, he could flourish in the Redskins’ scheme, which uses zone defense heavily, with a weight on generating pressure organically.

And while Alexander isn’t an explosive athlete, he isn’t bad in that regard, either. He ran a faster 40-yard dash time, and tested as a better overall athlete, than Bashaud Breeland, as this graphic shows. Breeland had success with the Redskins from 2014 to 2017. Committing to the bold take that Alexander will become a starter is brash, to say the least. But he has potential, from a physical standpoint.

Furthermore, Alexander has seemed to get himself back on track with his character. He hasn’t failed a drug test since freshman year, per Eric Galko of Sporting News, and he’s not only acknowledged his faults and his failings, but also expressed a desire to help other student athletes avoid going down the wrong path. With Torrian Gray as a familiar mentor at Redskins Park, and with former and now current team mates Greg Stroman and Tim Settle alongside him, Alexander can start his NFL career on the right foot.

The Redskins’ selection of Alexander in the sixth round, with so many picks next year, is logical. But it’s unclear how he’ll fit onto the roster. ESPN’s John Keim reported just after the draft that the Redskins view him as a press cornerback. But they’re deeper at cornerback than they are at safety. At cornerback, the Redskins have Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Fabian Moreau, free agent acquisition Orlando Scandrick, upstart sophomore Joshua Holsey, sixth-round pick Greg Stroman, and sleeper UDFAs Danny Johnson, Ranthony Texada, and Jamarcus King. They’re not stacked there, but it’s a fairly congested position.

Meanwhile, the safety position consists of Montae Nicholson and D.J. Swearinger as starters, with Deshazor Everett, Fish Smithson, Troy Apke, Kenny Ladler, and Quin Blanding. Again, there are many candidates for backup spots, but it seems as if there is more leeway there. It will be hard for the Redskins to cut any of the backup cornerbacks to fit Alexander onto the roster. Holsey is a feisty player with promise in the slot. Stroman is a much more secure asset. Scandrick might be the most expendable of the bunch, but he provides a veteran presence that could be valuable to such a young unit.

Whatever the case, the Redskins will have several decisions to make, pertaining to Alexander. Cornerbacks like him have succeeded in the NFL, but his profile better suits a safety, and in his lone year at Virginia Tech with Torrian Gray, his most successful year, that was the position he played.

Next: Scouting Virginia Tech CB Adonis Alexander

For now, the Redskins have Alexander at cornerback. But that could change. There will be competition, and competition breeds clarity. But if Alexander does prove to be a pleasant surprise at cornerback, and if he proves too valuable to let go, then the Redskins have another decision to make. Who goes in his place?