Jarrad Davis | LB | Florida

[TheFinisher]

6'1" 238lbs
33.5 in Arms

38.5 inch vertical
10'9" broad jump
4.56 Forty Yard time

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Angular build with long limbs and a shredded physique. Excellent flexibility throughout his trunk. Can twist and turn to slither into gaps. Plus acceleration to chase all over the field. Scouts say coaches are effusive in their praise of his leadership, work ethic and character. Can be rude to company. Erupts from coiled hips with a jarring pop under the pads of oncoming blockers. Runs downhill with choppy steps in balanced, tackle-ready position. Effective in spy role with athleticism to mirror mobile quarterbacks. Has closing burst that could become a weapon as a blitzer. Wrap-up tackler with strong finishing rate. Improved his discipline pursuing to the sideline. Did a better job of leveraging running backs against the boundary. Forceful redirect of tight ends out of their routes. Good peripheral helps him spot crossing routes without having to drop eyes from the quarterback. Has athletic tools to become better in coverage.
WEAKNESSES
Downhill routes to the ball can be problematic. Will step too far downhill and get trapped in traffic on counters or bounces to the perimeter. Needs to play with more consistent technique and positioning to properly leverage his gaps against gap plays. Lateral scrapes sometimes lack patience forcing him to overrun run fits and open cutback lanes. Sometimes prioritizes attacking blockers too high. Has to get better at seeing and working past the blocker and toward the runner rather than issuing so many physical challenges that get him behind in pursuit. Could improve with greater stick-and-move hand work to keep himself clean. Struggles to free himself when snatched by blocker. Average instincts create inefficiency with early, post-snap movement.
SOURCES TELL US
"He's good. I don't care about some of those holes you are talking about. Kill him so maybe somebody will listen to you and he can fall to us. We'll take him." -- AFC executive
BOTTOM LINE
Praised for both his football and personal character, Davis has athletic gifts to go along with the character traits teams are looking for. His ability to cover ground, operate with loose hips in space, and finish his tackles make him a draft favorite for some teams. While it is easy to fall in love with the traits and potential, Will have to take better routes to the ball and learn to keep himself clean against blocks. Should be able to compete for an early starting job as a 4-3 outside backer.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/jarrad-davis?id=2557855

 

[ConceptCoop]

I love Davis. But after watching the secondary leave in FA, sadly, I don't think LB is a big enough priority to justify the pick at 28.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I really like Davis, but his best NFL position is also Sean Lee's best NFL position.

 

[TheFinisher]

I love Davis. But after watching the secondary leave in FA, sadly, I don't think LB is a big enough priority to justify the pick at 28.

IDK, with the depth of the DB class I could see the team feeling okay with waiting to address that and just plucking BPA at 28, which very well could be Davis.

 

[TheFinisher]

I really like Davis, but his best NFL position is also Sean Lee's best NFL position.

LBs are really interchangeable, especially in this defense... think Davis could could any of the 3.

 

[Hailmary]

Reading that some teams are rating Davis over Foster.

Via Walterfootball:

Some team sources feel that Foster has "boom or bust" potential and prefer Florida's Jarrad Davis over him. Here's how one scout broke down the concerns with Foster, "Reuben is Chris Claiborne (old USC linebacker) all over again. The explosive plays are tantalizing, but there's a lot of concerning issues there. I didn't see production and physical talent enough of a gap between a healthy Jarrad Davis and Foster to leap Foster over Davis in my grade. Davis is much less of a concern off the field, instinctively, and playing hurt.

"I'm not hearing everyone is sold on Reuben. He is a bit of a 1-year wonder. He struggled bad with the mental part in his early years. Physically, he showed out as a senior because he was protected by good talent, including special players like Jonathan Allen and Da'Ron Payne. They kept him free to scrape and go. There's a lot of "boom or bust" concern, and I know for a fact that a bunch of squads have Jarrad Davis ahead of Reuben for that reason. Plus, Davis has always played banged up while Reuben had concerning injuries earlier in career that held him out a bunch."
Read more at http://BAN-INCOMING-IN-3-2-1/draft2017stock_29.php#30zhcOGTlHG1qcMi.99

 

[BAT]

6'1" 238lbs
33.5 in Arms

38.5 inch vertical
10'9" broad jump
4.56 Forty Yard time


http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/jarrad-davis?id=2557855

Like Reddick and Cunningham better but would love Davis in the 3rd. May have to move Lee back to MIKE if Jaylon not ready to go however. Unlike Reddick and Cunningham, Davis would not be as successful if played anywhere but the WILL.

Where did the 4.56 40 come from?

 

[Hailmary]

Davis is not dropping to the third.

 

[Risen Star]

Replacing Hitchens in the starting 3 LBs with Davis would be a huge upgrade. If Jaylon Smith can play anywhere close to full strength it would become one of the best LB groups in the league.

 

[Gaede]

Replacing Hitchens in the starting 3 LBs with David would be a huge upgrade. If Jaylon Smith can play anywhere close to full strength it would become one of the best LB groups in the league.

Hitchens needs to be replaced more than Scandrick or Brown. That guy is just not good.

 

[Risen Star]

Hitchens needs to be replaced more than Scandrick or Brown. That guy is just not good.

Easily our worst starting player by a lot.

Funny how I never hear about him anymore.

 

[NEODOG]

Davis is all over the field......he just makes plays

 

[Killerinstinct]

I think the starting LB's will be Lee, Smith, and Wilson so Hitchins is already replaced. And most of the time there will only be two on the field at a time so Hitchins is really just depth at this point.

This is of course contingent on Smith being able to play. Maybe the team is blowing smoke but it sounds like they expect him to.

 

[Alexander]

This is of course contingent on Smith being able to play. Maybe the team is blowing smoke but it sounds like they expect him to.

If they were smart, they would look to getting another player to back him up. If things don't work out with him, we are right back to Hitchens again, which is a liability, especially without a player like Church to back them up and clean up the misses. Middle of the defense needs to be sound.

 

[Killerinstinct]

If they were smart, they would look to getting another player to back him up. If things don't work out with him, we are right back to Hitchens again, which is a liability, especially without a player like Church to back them up and clean up the misses. Middle of the defense needs to be sound.

So we should use pick 28 to take a guy to cover in case last years pick 34 doesn't pan out. When our secondary has been depleted?

 

[Alexander]

So we should use pick 28 to take a guy to cover in case last years pick 34 doesn't pan out. When our secondary has been depleted?

Not saying that. Just in general. Just like TE, would like and love one but not taking one at 28 unless his name is O.J. Howard.

And last I checked, the middle of the defense does mean safety too.

 

[dstew60105]

Like Reddick and Cunningham better but would love Davis in the 3rd. May have to move Lee back to MIKE if Jaylon not ready to go however. Unlike Reddick and Cunningham, Davis would not be as successful if played anywhere but the WILL.

Where did the 4.56 40 come from?

Just ran it at his pro day. I'm a UF alum and have watched every game Davis has played. He's a monster and worth taking at 28 and come back at 60 for a DB.

 

[Risen Star]

I definitely prefer Davis over the more hyped Cunningham, who is a more of a finesse linebacker.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Replacing Hitchens in the starting 3 LBs with Davis would be a huge upgrade. If Jaylon Smith can play anywhere close to full strength it would become one of the best LB groups in the league.

Good chance if we dont get a starter through the draft that Damien Wilson beats out Hitchens IMO

 

[TheFinisher]

I think the starting LB's will be Lee, Smith, and Wilson so Hitchins is already replaced. And most of the time there will only be two on the field at a time so Hitchins is really just depth at this point.

This is of course contingent on Smith being able to play. Maybe the team is blowing smoke but it sounds like they expect him to.

I would think if they took Davis he would probably play Mike and allow us to move Jaylon outside at Sam, much like how Denver uses Von Miller in their 4-3 looks. The FO has openly discussed their plans for involving Jaylon in the pass rush, you can rush him off the edge in nickel and dime looks.