The 2026 NFL Draft has several names that will be called for the offensive line position that analysts and draftniks have been bandying about all off-season, but there are a few names that have gathered little to no attention that are likely going to be selected before the curtain closes. J.C. Davis has a resume that GMs will make note of for when they get later into Day 3. With so many players available at tackle, there are going to be several that have to wait to hear their name called.
Measurables
Height: 6’4 3/8″
Weight: 322 pounds
Arms: 34 1/4″
Hands: 10 1/8″
40-yard: 5.16
Vertical: 30.5″
Broad: 8’3″
School: Illinois
Position: Offensive Tackle
J.C. Davis NFL Draft Overview
J.C. Davis began his collegiate journey through Contra Costa College in 2021 before taking his game to New Mexico in 2022. There, in the Mountain West Conference, J.C. started all 12 games at left tackle. He would repeat as the starter and staple at LT for New Mexico again in 2023.
In 2024, Davis decided to transfer to Illinois where he immediately stepped into a starting role, and for the next two seasons he would be the blindside protector for the Fighting Illini.
Strengths
- Durable player that has shown the ability to remain available throughout his collegiate career
- Adequate play strength that should be more developed as a professional
- Rises to the occasion against perceived superior competition
- Footwork and lateral movement work well when shielding in pass protection
- Possesses prototypical length for the positions
- Hand usage is deliberate without wasted motion or missed opportunity
Weaknesses
- Will dip into blocks and set himself at a disadvantage early in the rep
- Too often absorbs the rush rather than be a pro-active blocker
- Will adjust too early in the rep against speed rushes opening lanes back under or across his face
- Can be bullied because of hesitation in initiating the block
Projection: Round 6
Best Fits: Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins
Bottom Line on J.C. Davis
J.C. Davis can immediately be a depth piece and swing tackle for a roster that desperately needs offensive tackle help. There are no outstanding attributes in his game, but he is fundamentally sound, if somewhat robotic. It’s the kind of play style that you can rely on to be exactly what you expect.
J. C. Davis’s athletic profile is similar to Tyrus Thompson out of Oklahoma. The prototype weight and length are going to get Davis drafted but there is a ceiling here that has to be recognized. Back-up and swing tackles have value, so there will be more than one GM that has him on the board. He’s somewhat of a project, but he’s more likely to be exactly what he is. And that’s a fundamentally sound blocker with limitations that will keep him from being a starter. All the necessary components are there to compete as a pro, so the floor is actually higher than some of the players that will likely be drafted before him. If you’re in the market for depth at tackle starting in the middle of Day 3, J.C. Davis should be somewhere on your radar.
