Mock draft projects Toledo DT Darius Alexander to 49ers

Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports released his latest mock draft, and like many, he has the San Francisco 49ers addressing one of their biggest needs—the defensive line. After a disappointing 6-11 season, the Niners hold the 11th overall pick, and Fornelli has Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander projected to land in San Francisco.

However, Fornelli admits that Alexander may not be his top choice at No. 11.

"Truth be told, I like Walter Nolen better than Darius Alexander, but I had Nolen here in my last mock, so I'm switching it up a bit!" Fornelli wrote. "Alexander had a very impressive combine, and I know there are some teams who are extremely high on him."

Interestingly, Alexander is ranked 45th by CBS Sports, making him the second-lowest-ranked first-round prospect in Fornelli's mock draft. He has Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson—ranked 61st—projected to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 27.

Alexander (6-4, 305) registered 40 tackles (eight for a loss), 3.5 sacks, four passes defensed, an interception, and a touchdown across 12 games as a senior in 2024, per Sports Reference. His performance earned him career-high grades from Pro Football Focus, including a 90.1 defensive grade and a 90.3 run-defense grade. His defensive grade ranked second in the nation among interior defenders, while his run-defense grade ranked third.

Throughout his five-season collegiate career, Alexander totaled 127 tackles (23 for a loss), nine sacks, 13 passes defensed, an interception, and a touchdown.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Alexander posted an impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.95 seconds, a vertical jump of 31.5 inches, a broad jump of 9 feet, 3 inches, and 28 reps on the bench press. His 40-yard dash time was the fifth-fastest among defensive tackles, while his 28 bench press reps were the second-most among the same group.