The Washington Redskins returned to a familiar spot to try to plug a hole, selecting Virginia Tech corner Adonis Alexander in the sixth round of the supplemental draft.
He's the third player Washington drafted from Virginia Tech this year and he played one season for current Redskins defensive backs coach Torrian Gray. That familiarity helped the Redskins in deciding whether or not to draft a player who was declared academically ineligible for his redshirt senior season. He also was arrested on a marijuana charge in 2016, but told The Sporting News that he has passed "eight or nine" drug tests this year.
The Redskins like that Alexander has good size and length at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds and they view him as a press corner. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds at his Pro Day earlier this summer -- a time that likely dissuaded teams from using a higher pick on him.
The Redskins lose a sixth-round pick in the 2019 draft by selecting Alexander, but the team expects to add two compensatory sixth-rounders in 2019 based on free agency losses. That's one reason they felt comfortable taking a chance in this round Wednesday.
The Redskins have some unsettled jobs at corner. They opted not to re-sign Bashaud Breeland in free agency and signed veteran Orlando Scandrick. They also have Quinton Dunbar and Fabian Moreau who can play outside as well opposite Josh Norman. Scandrick will work both outside and inside.
Alexander becomes the Redskins' first supplemental pick since they used a third-round choice on defensive lineman Jeremy Jarmon in 2009. He lasted two seasons with Washington before being traded to Denver and subsequently retired at age 24.
The Redskins also drafted nose tackle Tim Settle (fifth round) and corner Greg Stroman (seventh round) from Virginia Tech in April.
Washington waived punter Sam Irwin-Hill in the corresponding roster move.