The New Orleans Saints have a lot of problems, but cornerback should be one they address this draft. Bringing back Isaac Yiadom to pair with Kool-Aid McKinstry was a solid move. But with Paulson Adebo off to the New York Giants and Marshon Lattimore with the Washington Commanders, the Saints desperately need some fresh legs on the boundary.
Enter Zy Alexander. The LSU corner isn’t just a local kid—he’s the kind of long, physical, zone-friendly defensive back who fits perfectly into the kind of coverage-heavy scheme new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley likes to deploy. He’s got the length, the instincts, and just enough attitude to make life difficult for NFC South quarterbacks who aren’t exactly striking fear into anyone.
If the Saints want a young outside corner who can hold his own, attack the ball, and wrap up when it’s time to tackle, Alexander’s blend of size and IQ might be exactly what they need. He’s still got some polish to add, but the raw ingredients are right—and the fit just makes too much sense.
LSU CB Zy Alexander 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Notes
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 194 pounds
- Recruiting: 2020 unranked
- Former FCS All-American at Southeastern Louisiana before transferring to LSU
- 13 career interceptions, including two pick-sixes in 2022
- State champion outfielder in high school baseball
Positives
- Long-limbed zone defender who thrives with eyes on the quarterback and timing at the catch point
- Outstanding ball skills with 13 career INTs—former wideout instincts show up every time the ball is in the air
- Plays bigger than his frame suggests—wraps up well, attacks blocks, and sticks his nose in on the perimeter
- Shows fluid hips and vertical speed to stay in phase against most boundary targets downfield
Alexander plays like a converted wide receiver who’s still not over the fact someone told him he didn't have hands. His ball skills are real—tracking, timing, and competing at the high point are baked into his game. He’s not going to win every foot race, but he doesn’t panic when the ball is in the air, and he’s sneaky-physical when attacking catch points. That’ll play in a zone-heavy Saints defense that thrives on turnovers and disguise.
More importantly, he brings something New Orleans has lacked in recent years: consistent tackling from a defensive back not named Tyrann Mathieu. Alexander doesn’t shy from contact. He takes smart angles, plays through the receiver, and doesn’t flail at legs when it’s time to bring someone down. His 6-foot-2 frame and natural length make him a tough matchup for big-bodied receivers—and give the Saints a long-overdue boost of youth and stability on the outside.
Negatives
- Press technique is still a mess—lets too many receivers off the line without disrupting timing
- Average transitional quickness; struggles to recover when out of phase or facing sharp route breaks
- Injury history includes a 2023 ACL tear and a 2024 concussion—both worth monitoring during evaluations
There’s a reason Alexander isn’t a clean top-50 pick, and it mostly comes down to two things: his feet and his health. The lower-half stiffness shows up against quicker receivers—especially in off-man—and his transitions can get clunky when the route breaks sharply. He’s best when he can stay leveraged with the ball in front of him, not when he has to mirror twitchy separators in space.
Then there’s the medical file. A torn ACL in 2023 and a concussion in 2024 don’t scream red flag, but they’re not insignificant either. Add in the fact that he brings almost zero special teams value early on, and he might have to win a job as a CB3 or CB4 before carving out a bigger role. Still, if the Saints want a long, physical zone corner to mold, Alexander fits what they’re building in the secondary.
Zy Alexander NFL Player Comparison: Harold Landry III
- Primary Comp: Michael Davis
- Alternative: Carlton Davis
- Floor Comp: Rock Ya-Sin
Alexander brings the same kind of length, physicality, and ball skills that helped Michael Davis become a reliable outside corner. They both use their frame to challenge receivers at the catch point and hold their own even without top-end quickness.
The Carlton Davis comp fits too. Both are confident, physical defenders who play with a little swagger and aren’t afraid to get involved in the run game. The LSU product still needs to clean up the finer details, but the makeup is there.
Zy Alexander 2025 NFL Draft Grade: Late 3rd/Early 4th
The Saints need corner help, so Alexander makes sense. He’s not the most agile cover man, but in a defense where he can watch the play, he can thrive. His local ties are a bonus, but it’s his length, instincts, and ball skills that make him a worthwhile bet. He’s not an immediate star, but with the right role and coaching, Alexander could become a solid starter.