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The Washington Redskins selected former Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander in the sixth round of the supplemental draft. The selection was rumored for quite sometime after Alexander left the Hokies due to academic issues. The Redskins, who were slated for 11 picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, decided to take a chance of the risky defensive back.
Adonis becomes the third Hokies’ rookie added this off-season by the Redskins — all coming on the defensive side. Washington’s defensive backs coach Torrian Gray spent 2006-15 as the defensive backs coach for Virginia Tech. He also coached Alexander during his freshman season.
The #Redskins drafted both DT Tim Settle and CB Greg Stroman from #VirginiaTech in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Now add a third rookie Hokie in Adonis Alexander. Staying local.
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) July 11, 2018
At 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds, Alexander has a great frame for a defensive back and adds to the long list of NFL-bound players out of the Hokies’ program. He recorded 125 tackles, seven interceptions and 17 passes defensed in three seasons at Virginia Tech. However, he comes with a great deal of baggage.
Off-field issues (drug arrest/tests as a collegian), shaky 40 dropped Alexander in the process. Skins got good value with the last Va Tech CB they drafted. Kendall Fuller was a piece in the Alex Smith trade. Alexander will help replace him. https://t.co/5RFtl1YcGX
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 11, 2018
Alexander ran a 4.63 in the 40-yard dash during his pro day following his decision to leave the school. On the positive side, he had a vertical jump of 35½ inches and broad jump of 10 feet, 4 inches which would have tested in the top 10 at his position in this year’s NFL scouting combine.
“I wasn’t really humble at the time,” Alexander told Yahoo Sports on addressing his dismissal from Virginia Tech. “I definitely got a big head, I definitely started doing a lot more with my social life instead of my academic life. I really put football and my social life above academics. And that put me in a big hole.”
Alexander was suspended for two games last season for a violation of team rules and one game in 2016 stemming from an arrest for marijuana possession. He has NFL talent but whether or not he can overcome his off the field issues will be telling of his professional career.
On the eve of NFL’s supplemental draft, teams received a clean drug test from Va Tech DB Adonis Alexander taken this week. They’d already received notice he’d passed tests over the last eight months. Alexander intent on proving marijuana arrest from 2016 was an isolated incident.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 10, 2018
For selecting Alexander in the supplemental draft, the Redskins will lose a sixth-round pick for next year’s NFL Draft. A small price to pay to add depth to a position of need. Washington traded fellow ex-Hokies cornerback Kendall Fuller — their top slot corner — to the Kansas City Chiefs to acquire quarterback Alex Smith. In addition, Bashaud Breeland, who started 15 games last season, departed the team in free agency.
Alexander will join a group of cornerbacks that is led by Josh Norman and Quinton Dunbar. Washington signed Orlando Scandrick this past off-season and drafted Stroman to go with last year’s draft picks Fabian Moreau and Josh Hosley. While there is a lot of uncertainty at the position with the change, Alexander will have his work cut out for him proving he can overcome his off-the-field issues and stand out with his play above an unproven but talented group of reserves.
