It’s safe to say, at this point, Washington Commanders former first-rounder Jamin Davis hasn’t worked out.
The Commanders took the linebacker at 19th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and the results have been minimal: Davis has logged 269 total tackles, 7.0 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, one interception, six pass break-ups, and he’s forced two fumbles and also recovered two over the course of 45 career games.
Back in April, Commanders’ new general manager Adam Peters decided to decline Davis’ fifth-year option due to the lack of production. That was nowhere near the final straw for Davis in Washington, however, as new head coach Dan Quinn thought it’d be a good idea to move him to EDGE in hopes of maximizing his potential. Plus, there’s also the fact the team brought in established veterans Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner to play linebacker, forcing Davis down the depth chart. There simply isn’t enough snaps to go around at off-ball linebacker – Davis’ original position.
Davis took the decision in stride and wants to make the most out of it, especially since it’s his best chance at making the team.
“I feel like it’s given me a chance to just really cut it loose and just go hunt some quarterbacks honestly. So like I said before, I’m having real fun with it right now and just going to see where this thing takes me,” Davis said back in June.
He has the athleticism, along with the traits, to play EDGE in the NFL, albeit as a two-point rusher, not a hand-in-the-dirt rusher. On paper, the move makes sense. Below is a clip of Davis being effectively used as such in a game against the Detroit Lions:
It just that unfortunately, per reports, it’s not translating onto the field.
Davis still has plenty of time to make up ground and the fact that the Commanders EDGE room has established guys, but also plenty of questions, helps his case. Right now, Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell, and Dante Folwer are the three safest guys on the roster. After them, however, it’s murky.
Efe Obada started camp on PUP while he continues to recover from a leg injury he suffered during the 2023 season. K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr. are primarily special teams/reserve guys and then there’s seventh-round rookie Javonte Jean-Baptiste and reserve Jalen Harris in the mix. Sure, there are bodies, but none have any kind of stronghold on a job.
There’s also Davis’ contract to take into consideration, which is fully guaranteed since he was a first-round pick. If he’s cut, the Commanders will have to eat $4,389,056 in dead money (Davis’ prorated signing bonus from 2021 plus his 2024 base salary) and they’ll save zero dollars, per Over The Cap. Teams typically don’t go that route, especially if the guy has a first-round pedigree, which is another factor that plays in Davis’ favor. Honestly, it’s the biggest factor, of all.
Still, it’s obviously going to be an uphill climb for Davis, both in the form of the depth chart and simply learning a new position. Fortunately, he’s getting a ton of help from his coaches and teammates, but that only goes so far in the end. Ultimately, it’ll be up to his personal work ethic and impact to make the team. Right now, that’s far from guaranteed and even the odds are against him.
