Jets Start Free Agency With Signing of 'Premium Defender'

The New York Jets have reportedly signed former Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis to a one year deal in free agency. Robert Saleh adds a LB to his defense

Max Goodman | Mar 15, 2021

Free agency has begun for the New York Jets.

New York has signed linebacker Jarrad Davis to a one-year deal worth $7 million, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

"Last year, Jarrad Davis had limited snaps in Detroit," Rapoport tweeted shortly after announcing the deal. "But teams felt he wasn’t used properly, and his market was real. Now, the #Jets land a premium defender."

Davis is a former first-round pick, taken 21st overall in 2017 out of Florida by the Detroit Lions. He then spent the first four years of his NFL career with Detroit, playing a total of 55 games in that span. The 26-year-old has accumulated 10.5 sacks and 305 total tackles in his four-year career.

As Rapoport alluded to, Davis played in 14 games last year but made just four starts. That was a steep drop in playing time after Davis made 11-plus starts in his first three years in Detroit.

Clearly Jets general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh believe New York can get more out of this linebacker going forward in green and white.

In 2018, Davis showed he has the ability to be a quality defender and starting linebacker in this league. He compiled six sacks and 100 tackles in that season, setting career-high numbers across the board.

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Published Mar 15, 2021

MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.