Veteran linebacker Jarrad Davis signed a new contract with the Detroit Lions. Davis spent the 2021 season with the New York Jets, after being drafted by the Lions in 2017 and spending the first four seasons of his career in Detroit.
The #Lions have signed back their own free agent, as former 1st rounder Jarrad Davis lands back in Detroit.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 25, 2022
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Jarrad Davis, Detroit Lions, Agree to Contract
His first and only season with the Jets, 2021 was not a great year for Davis. He started the year on IR due to an ankle injury he suffered during the preseason. Only appearing in nine games and starting five, Davis naturally had the lowest statistical output of his career in 2021. The non-volume stats were also problematic, though. According to Pro Football Reference, Davis was targeted 12 times in pass coverage, allowing 11 receptions, 96 yards, one touchdown, and a 127.8 passer rating. Missed tackles were also an issue, as Davis missed at a rate of 16.7%, a career-worst.
Prior to joining the Jets, Jarrad Davis had a career of ups and downs during his four years with the Detroit Lions. He was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Davis had a strong rookie year statistically, racking up 96 tackles, two sacks, and his only career interception. 2018 was by far the best year in Davis’s career. Career highs in tackles (100), sacks (six), tackles for loss (10), quarterback hits (10), and passes defended (five). 2018 was also the only year that Davis played in every game, as he played 99% of the Lions total defensive snaps that season.
After 2018, it was downhill for Davis. His numbers got worse, particularly in pass coverage. Though he was never a good coverage linebacker, he has been abysmal in recent years. In 2020, Davis saw his role in the Lions offense drastically reduce. Despite playing in three more games than 2019, played over 300 fewer snaps in 2020. Now, it appears his role will be reduced to a linebacker who might only see the field in running situations, drastically reducing the impact he can have on a team.
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