Darius Alexander's NFL Combine workout could force 49ers to take action

The 49ers need a defensive tackle, and Darius Alexander fits the bill. But his NFL Combine efforts make things tough.

Arguably the top need for the San Francisco 49ers in this year's NFL Draft is a defensive tackle, a position not adequately addressed since the days when DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead were patrolling the interior.

Thankfully, this year's draft is chock full of talented interior linemen. With the 11th overall pick, general manager John Lynch will have an awfully wide array of prospects from which to choose.

That said, there's a good chance Lynch goes with one of the thinner positions early in Round 1 instead. As ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. mocked out, the Niners could opt to grab a cornerback, perhaps Michigan's Will Johnson, thereby postponing the D-line needs until later.

One D-line prospect who assuredly is on San Francisco's radar is Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander, whose small-school pedigree shouldn't get in the way of his disruptive abilities and run-stuffing prowess.

Turns out, Alexander crushed the opening phase of his NFL Scouting Combine workouts, too, running a blazing-fast 4.96 40-yard time at Indy:

That's excellent for an interior lineman, made even more impressive considering he's 305 pounds.

However, the impressive combine numbers thus far create something of a problem for San Francisco if he's a top target.

49ers may have to get creative in NFL Draft to land Darius Alexander

Alexander is viewed as a fringe first-rounder. But, the fluidity of prospects slated to be picked between Nos. 11 and 40, let's say, is high. There isn't that much of a drop even if no one player truly stands out after the first 10.

The 49ers pick at No. 11 but don't own a selection again until the first half of Round 2, No. 43 overall.

Alexander won't be picked 11th overall, and his jaw-dropping 40-time pretty much rules out him slipping to 43rd.

If that's the case, and the Toledo product is labeled by the Niners as a must-have target, Lynch and Co. will have to get creative.

Perhaps a trade-up into the tail end of Round 1 is in order, possibly early in Round 2 if the 6-foot-4 defensive tackle slips a little bit.

Although that doesn't seem likely now.

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