New York Giants 2023 UFA Primer: LB Jarrad Davis

Jarrad Davis, Linebacker

Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 238 lbs.
Age: 28
NFL Exp: 6 Years
College: Florida

The New York Giants linebacker core was one of the positions dealt a heavy blow by injuries in 2022, and when the team didn’t have reinforcements, they went out and acquired Jarrad Davis.

Davis, a 2017 second-round draft pick out of Florida, was signed by the Giants in late December off the Detroit Lions practice squad. Before coming to East Rutherford, he spent four seasons with the Lions from 2017-2020 as one of their most productive defensive players and then played nine games for the New York Jets in the 2021 season.

In three years with the Gators in the SEC, Davis accumulated 44 games with 205 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception, and two forced fumbles. He also had ten passes deflected in that span, contributing to his impressive defensive performance in his sophomore year. An ankle injury limited his ability to perform at the NFL Combine. Still, his showing at Florida’s Pro Day—Davis had the second-fastest 40-yard dash among linebackers—earned him intrigue at the professional level.

Drafted 21st overall by the Lions, Davis was named the team’s starting middle linebacker. He guided the defense to a 9-7 campaign with 96 combined tackles, three pass deflections, two sacks, one interception, and a forced fumble in 14 games. The next three seasons saw him play in at least 11 contests, and 2018 was his career-best year with the pride as he tallied 99 tackles, six sacks, one fumble, and five pass deflections.

The Jets picked up Davis in 2021 after Detroit declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. Yet, things never worked out in Florham Park, with Davis placed on injured reserve at the start of the season and appearing in just nine games with 25 tackles.

2022 Recap

Jarrad Davis was signed on December 28, 2022, from the Lions’ practice squad after being reclaimed by the Lions following his release from the Jets. He made his first appearance with the Giants in the regular season finale against Philadelphia and rallied 11 tackles (5 assisted) and a half sack in the 22-16 loss.

In the postseason, Davis had two tackles in the Giants’ 31-24 Wild Card win over the Minnesota Vikings. He followed that up with five takedowns against the Eagles in the Divisional round loss, bringing his career resume to 343 tackles, 11 sacks, seven forced fumbles, three recoveries, and one interception.

Why the Giants Should Keep Him

More than anything else, the Giants are desperate for consistent linebacker depth, and Davis could assist them in having that. In his first four seasons, the 28-year-old only missed eight games and was available for at least ten games per campaign.

Davis has also been a highly productive linebacker throughout his NFL career. With three consecutive seasons of at least 63 tackles and ten total sacks, the Florida product is guaranteed to get into the fray nearly every snap and hunt down the football before it reaches the second and third levels. That’s the element to the middle of the defense the Giants have missed in the last few years, with stalwarts leaving the team or burdened with injuries.

Davis could also be a mentor for the younger group. Micah McFadden will return after a pretty impressive 59-tackle and two-sack rookie season. The team will also have Darrian Beavers back after he missed his first season with an ACL injury. Perhaps Davis’ hunter’s presence could also bring more out of them and provide New York with a feistier unit beyond the front lines.

Why the Giants Shouldn’t Keep Him

As previously mentioned, the New York Giants have dealt with injury woes at the linebacker position. Unfortunately, Davis fell victim to those during his time with the other MetLife Stadium resident. After four double-digit game outings, he played just nine games in 2021 with the Jets and then appeared in just three for the Lions in the first half of the 2022 season before getting claimed by the Giants.

Big Blue’s linebackers group will also be very congested with competition when the teams enters training camp next summer. Along with the returns of McFadden and Beavers, the Giants might also have Jaylon Smith returning to compete for starring roles within the middle of the defense.

Davis will also be one of the oldest players in the linebacker position if retained by the Giants. For a team that aims at building around their youth for the long term, it may not behoove them to invest that much in a player nearing his 30s in a position that takes a heavy beating every Sunday.

Keep or Dump?

Davis’s production in the early part of his career is much to be respected. He tries to be an active, impactful player in whatever system you place him in. That effort is something the Giants could benefit from as they continue to rely on Wink Martindale’s defense to keep them competitive.

That said, it’s hard to gauge where the Giants go with Davis because of the competition at the position and the physical demands relative to his age. It wouldn’t hurt to negotiate around a veteran minimum type of deal. Still, it wouldn’t be a dramatic loss if the Giants elect to walk away from him in the coming offseason.

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