Looking back on the 2021 NFL Draft, it’s now fair to say that Ron Rivera reached pretty badly when he used the nineteenth overall pick on Kentucky off-the-ball linebacker Jamin Davis. Let’s not even talk about who was still sitting there when Washington made the pick (cough, cough, Christian Darrisaw), but rather the methodology behind the selection.
Jamin was known to be a hard worker from a military family – characteristics Rivera clearly valued. But he was also raw, having just one season as a full-time starter with solid production. The 6’3” 234 pounder wowed scouts at his pre-draft workouts running a 4.47 40, with a 42” vertical and 11’ broad jump.
During his rookie year, Rivera tried to turn Davis into the next Luke Kuechly but the rookie struggled with the nuances of playing the MIKE. He showed flashes of his athletic ability when he was in see-ball-get-ball situations, but his reads were slow, and it clearly looked like he was thinking way too much out on the field.
Davis improved drastically in year two after being moved to WILL. There he was able to think less and let his athleticism take over. Jamin was on his way to his best season as a pro in 2023 before he was injured and placed on IR. He was on pace to post career highs in tackles, tackles for a loss, sacks and passes defended. He also recorded his first NFL interception.
Enter a new general manager and coaching staff…
When Adam Peters and Dan Quinn arrived in Washington, they put a clear emphasis on off-the-ball linebacker – something the previous staff neglected for their entire tenure in D.C. Peters brought in All-Pro Bobby Wagner and the high-motor Frankie Luvu. In the 2024 NFL Draft Peters selected Temple linebacker Jordan Magee in the fifth round. Washington also signed Jeremy Chinn who is expected to see time down in the box as a situational dime linebacker.
This left Jamin Davis on the outside looking in.
Quinn and DC Joe Whitt Jr. however, had a plan. In Dallas, the duo used the uber-athletic Micah Parsons as an EDGE rusher, despite him playing primarily as an off-the-ball linebacker at Penn State. In three seasons, Parsons made three All-Pro teams (two 1st-team and a 2nd-team) and was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021. Parsons recorded 40.5 sacks in his first three years in the NFL rushing from various positions in Dallas’s defense.
Washington has been experimenting with Davis as an EDGE during offseason workouts. Once training camp began, Jamin was taking snaps on a full-time basis with the defensive line group.
Washington Commanders LB Jamin Davis continuing his EDGE training pic.twitter.com/dHOG04KPyd
— David Harrison (@DHarrison82) July 30, 2024
Jamin Davis rotating at edge w first team for the first time in camp
— Lynnell Willingham (@Nell_BTP) July 28, 2024
The transition hasn’t gone as smoothly as some would have hoped. It has been reported by multiple Commanders beat journalists that the fourth-year pro has struggled early on in his new role.
Jamin Davis just got MAULED by Trent Scott
Transition still a work in progress
— Lynnell Willingham (@Nell_BTP) July 30, 2024
Through six days of camp, here are some of the key takeaways that have stood out to me:
– Jamin Davis has struggled so far as an edge rusher, and hasn’t been used at LB at all.
– Jayden Daniels has looked poised, and has shown improvement each day.
– No receiver after Terry has…— Eric Sully (@CommandersRealm) July 30, 2024
It’s still way too early in the process to write Jamin Davis off as a primary EDGE rusher. He’s never played EDGE before and he’ll need to learn the nuances of the position before he can start putting things together. There is also the chance that the staff is getting him as much work there as possibly early in camp, knowing that he can still transition back and forth between pass rusher and off-the-ball linebacker when the season starts.
This will be an important year in the maturation process for Davis. I believe he’ll be given every opportunity to show off his unique athletic gifts to this new staff during the 2024 season. Whether he sinks or swims is up to him.