Steelers to Host Fast-Rising Defensive Tackle for Pre-Draft Visit
The Pittsburgh Steelers are hosting Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander for a pre-draft visit, he told The Draft Network.
Alexander was one of the big risers from his performance at the 2025 Senior Bowl, where the Steelers scouted him in depth with general manager Omar Khan and assistant general manager Andy Weidl, head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin all in attendance in Mobile and paying specific attention to the defensive tackles.
Alexander was No. 176 on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board just before the Senior Bowl. He’s now at No. 49, turning that strong performance into a high day two or possibly late first-round pick.
For the Steelers, Alexander represents a strong option if they want to trade back into the latter portion of the first round or out of it entirely.
A six-year collegiate player, Alexander is one of the oldest in the 2025 NFL Draft class. He did not become a starter until his fourth season at Toledo. He redshirted as a true freshman and played a rotational role in 2020, 2021 and 2022 behind Penn State transfer Judge Culpepper and current L.A. Rams defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson. Alexander was named third-team All-MAC in 2023 and first-team All-MAC in 2024.
He had 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss, along with four passes defended and an interception that he returned for a touchdown as a sixth-year senior in 2024.
At the 2025 NFL Combine, Alexander ran a 4.95-second 40-yard dash and posted excelled explosiveness numbers with a 31.5-inch vertical and a 9-foot-4 broad jump. He had an overall 9.17 Relative Athletic Score out of 10.
Alexander makes 29 of the team’s 30 pre-draft visitors known. He and UCF running back R.J. Harvey have been reported to have visits, but have not yet taken them. The other 27 have already taken place.
STEELERS 2025 NFL DRAFT VISITOR TRACKER
Louisville QB Tyler Shough (March 6)
Ole Miss DT J.J. Pegues (March 6)
West Virginia OL Wyatt Milum (March 6) (exempt)
Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson (March 14)
TCU WR/RB Savion Williams (March 14)
Iowa DT Yahya Black (March 14)
Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins (March 17)
Pitt K Ben Sauls (March 18) (exempt)
Texas WR Matthew Golden (April 3)
Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson (April 3)
Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas (April 3)
Pitt TE Gavin Bartholomew (April 3) (exempt)
Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart (April 4)
South Carolina SS Nick Emmanwori (April 4)
Oregon NT Jamaree Caldwell (April 4)
Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel (April 4)
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten (April 7)
Florida State DT Joshua Farmer (April 7)
SMU DL Elijah Roberts (April 8)
Ole Miss CB Trey Amos (April 8)
Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon (April 9)
North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton (April 9)
Oregon DT Derrick Harmon (April 9)
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders (April 10)
Pitt S Donovan McMillon (April 10) (exempt)
Kansas State RB DJ Giddens (April 11)
Texas A&M OLB Shemar Stewart (April 11)
SMU DT Jared Harrison-Hunte (April 11)
Syracuse QB Kyle McCord (April 14)
Texas RB Jaydon Blue (April 14)
Minnesota CB Justin Walley (April 14)
UCF RB R.J. Harvey (reported)
Toledo DT Darius Alexander (per player)
Visits completed: 27/30
Visits reported: 29/30
