NFL analyst Brian Baldinger continues to assess potential 2025 NFL Draft fits for the San Francisco 49ers and recently added another intriguing name to the mix—Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander.

In a video shared by Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game, Baldinger noted that Alexander impressed him during Senior Bowl week, and likely did the same for 49ers general manager John Lynch, who was in attendance.


"A four-year player for Toledo," Baldinger said. "But what jumps out, and what I saw at the Senior Bowl was fast twitch. He can explode. He gets off blocks quickly. He uses his length to stack and shed, and that's what you wanted to see.

"Coming from Toledo at the Mid-America Conference, you want to see him play up and look like he belonged. Well, that's what we saw at the Senior Bowl. That's what you saw when he played Pitt this year, when he played Mississippi State. He looks like an SEC defensive lineman."

The 49ers hosted Alexander on a pre-draft visit—one of the 30 in-person visits the team was allowed.

Defensive line is among San Francisco's most pressing needs heading into the draft, especially following the departures of interior defenders Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins. With limited depth in the trenches, Alexander could emerge as a legitimate option. NFL.com currently projects him as a second-round pick.

Alexander (6-4, 305) started 12 games in 2024, finishing with a career-high 40 tackles (eight for loss), 3.5 sacks, an interception returned for a touchdown, and four passes defensed, per Sports Reference. His 90.1 defensive and 90.3 run-defense grades from Pro Football Focus were both career bests. He also posted 37 pressures last season, earning a solid 78.0 pass-rush grade.


"It's a great draft—a deep draft—for defensive line," Baldinger added. "Darius Alexander, let's consider him."



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