Grading The Eagles’ First-Round Pick Jordan Davis
It was a very interesting and exciting first round of the 2022 NFL Draft for the Eagles. It was not surprising they traded picks to move up in the draft.
Their first selection was used on a big-time defensive player. The Eagles used their number 13 overall pick to take Georgia defensive tackle, Jordan Davis. What is the grade for this first-round pick?
Major Trade To Get Him
The Eagles traded their first-round pick (No. 15), a fourth-round pick, and two fifth-round picks with the Houston Texans to move up to number 13 overall to select Jordan Davis. The Eagles went into the draft with ten selections overall, so they had the pieces to make a move and still have plenty of picks left.
Jordan Davis was on the Eagles’ radar, but so were several other players. Wide receiver Jameson Williams was available at the time of the trade, but he went to the Detroit Lions just one spot ahead of Philadelphia. Safety Kyle Hamilton was also available, but he went one pick later to the Baltimore Ravens.
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Who Is Jordan Davis?
Jordan Davis was born on January 12, 2000, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He started playing football in his junior year of high school. Davis played his college ball at the University of Georgia.
Davis made an impact right away for the Georgia Bulldogs. He was named SEC All-Freshman and a Freshman All-American during his first year in college by recording 25 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Davis had decent production in his sophomore and junior years before becoming a star in his senior year.
In 2021, Davis had 32 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, and two sacks. He was named an All-American and helped Georgia win the National Championship.
Jordan Davis is listed at 6’6″ and 341 lbs. He has tremendous size and power. Davis is most known for being a run stopper. He can neutralize double teams and beat single blockers. Teams have a difficult time running between the tackles when he is on the field. He was also the fastest defensive tackle at the combine.
As for weaknesses, Davis did not make an impact rushing the quarterback. His size makes leverage and change of direction more difficult. He was primarily a run stopper during his time at Georgia.
How Will Davis Fit In Philly?
Jordan Davis joins an already stacked defensive line for the Eagles. Veteran DTs Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave will remain the starters, but the Eagles like to rotate their defensive linemen to keep them fresh. Jordan Davis will likely be a rotational player along with second-year DT Milton Williams. Expect the Eagles to use Davis on rushing downs mostly.
The Eagles should be set at the defensive end position as well. Brandon Graham is coming back from injury, and they already have Josh Sweat. The Eagles re-signed Derek Barnett and brought in Haason Reddick who could be used in pass-rushing situations. Overall, the Eagles have a formidable defensive line rotation for all situations.
The Verdict
Draft Grade: B
The Eagles get a B-grade for their selection of Jordan Davis. Rebuilding the trenches is always important for NFL teams, but the defensive tackle position was not an immediate need for the Eagles. His lack of pass-rushing talent is concerning especially in the pass-heavy NFL. The Eagles were one of the worst teams in terms of number of sacks last season.
Jordan Davis does add size and power to the defensive line. He should help the Eagles’ defense be one of the best against the run. The Eagles have Ezekiel Elliot and Saquon Barkley in their division, so he should help counter that.
Davis could also be the future replacement for Fletcher Cox. Cox is 31 years old and on a one-year deal. With the addition of Davis, look for the defensive line to be a major strength of the Eagles this season.
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