Ex-Vikings 2nd Rounder Lands in Dallas
The Dallas Cowboys are arguably the NFL’s hottest team, dismantling the Indianapolis Colts 54-19 at AT&T Stadium in Week 13.
And tweaking the roster for an inevitable playoff push in January, Cowboys general manager Jerry Jones signed former Vikings cornerback Mackensie Alexander on Tuesday.
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Alexander last played for the Cincinnati Bengals, although the 28-year-old stopped in Miami for a very brief stint with the Dolphins late in the summer.
Now, Alexander joins the Cowboys practice squad, presumably an injury away from insertion into Dallas’ gameday lineup. Per FiveThirtyEight, the Cowboys are the fifth likeliest team to win Super Bowl LVII (16%), one spot ahead of the Vikings (7%) as of December 6th.
The Cowboys have about four healthy corners exiting Week 13, and it is unclear how soon Alexander could see the active roster.
A Flordia native, Alexander spent five seasons with the Vikings (2016-2019, 2021), separated by a stint in 2020 with the Bengals. Alexander is well-known in the Vikings orbit, playing 71 games for the franchise, and was selected with 2nd-Round draft capital from Clemson in 2016.
Alexander wasn’t retained by Minnesota in 2022 when a new general manager (Kwesi Adofo-Mensah) and head coach (Kevin O’Connell) took over for Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer. The 2021 season was rough for Alexander, who tallied a 41.0 grade from Pro Football Focus. The score ranked dead last in the NFL among 116 qualifying cornerbacks.
Through six seasons, this is Alexander’s PFF resume:
- 2016 = 47.5
- 2017 = 56.4
- 2018 = 78.1
- 2019 = 65.7
- 2020 = 60.4
- 2021 = 41.0
With the Vikings, Alexander recorded 154 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
The Cowboys also employ former Vikings Anthony Barr (LB) and Aviante Collins (OT), On the same that Alexander became a Cowboy, the Denver Broncos released Alexander’s former teammate, Anthony Harris.
Dallas creamed Minnesota in Week 11, 40-3, at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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