The Cleveland Browns had a great 2016 draft class, but what about after the draft? They may have found a gem in undrafted linebacker Dominique Alexander…
Could Cleveland Browns undrafted free agent linebacker Dominique Alexander be the next Danny Trevathan? You don’t like to pigeon-hole players into being something they might not be, but when I watched his tape, that’s exactly who he reminded me of…
That should excite Browns fans, who are going with a moneyball-style youth movement and have a lot of room for an undrafted player like Alexander to come in and earn a roster spot.
In my pre-draft scouting report of Alexander, what stood out to me was his ability to get his hands in every play whether he was getting in the mix against the run of playing in coverage. Here’s part of my report:
“He doesn’t jump off the page as an inside linebacker, which is typically a much bigger, more physical player. I saw a guy that could play weakside linebacker on tape, and I think he will flourish in that role.
His productivity is indicative of his willingness to be the aggressor, to seek out contact and to have his hands in every play. That’s the type of player I would be looking for as a linebacker.”
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That weakside linebacker role has proven successful for players of Alexander’s size both in a 3-4 defense as well as a 4-3 alignment. Basically, his role will be playing off the line most of the time, but he can also come down to the line of scrimmage and help make plays in the backfield. The NFL has adapted over the last few years, and linebackers now have to be as versatile as ever, which is why the fact that Alexander is slightly undersized doesn’t really bother me in terms of his potential to contribute.
Here you can see his ability in coverage:
He’s also able to fill the hole…
I’m not going to try and tell you that Alexander was deserving of a day two pick or something. Guys get drafted where they do for a reason. Likewise, there are usually good reasons for players not getting drafted at all, but I believe this is a player you could have taken in the 5th or 6th round, and it would have been a good value. He’s the type of player who can contribute early on special teams and develop into a bigger role for your defense over time.
Physically and athletically, his numbers almost mirror Danny Trevathan’s exactly when Trevathan came out of Kentucky a few years back.
His numbers won’t wow you. His size won’t blow you away. But Dominique Alexander is a player that can make an impact for the Browns and I think he’s a really good find on the undrafted player market.