Vernon Davis Inks Three Year Deal To Remain With Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins have made their first major move of the free agent period. They re-signed their backup tight end Vernon Davis to a three year deal.

When the Washington Redskins signed Vernon Davis to a contract prior to last season, there was not much hope that he would be a contributor. Formerly one of the best tight ends in the league, Davis had regressed in the previous years until he was just a mediocre backup with the Denver Broncos. Signing with the Redskins was his last chance to prove himself, and he was able to do so.

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Davis caught 44 passes for 583 yards and two touchdowns over the course of the season. He was terrific as a fill in for Jordan Reed when he was available, and really proved that he still had something left in the tank. Thanks to his mini renaissance, Davis was able to set himself up for another contract, but he did not want to leave Washington. Thus, it was always likely that he would sign a new deal with the team.

According to Davis’ Snapchat, he re-signed with the Redskins in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The deal is reported to be a three year pact, and before the financials were disclosed, I though that the deal would likely pay roughly $2-$3 million annually, as Davis is only going to be a backup for the team.

However, the Redskins elected to pay Davis $5 million per year, which is as a major overpay. Yes, the team definitely needed to retain Davis, but they could have gotten him at a lower price. Also, the 2017 NFL Draft is loaded a the tight end position, so they could have gotten a comparable contributor for a lower price.

Still, this was a huge move for the Redskins. The team desperately needed to retain one of their three prominent offensive weapons that were about to hit that market. Keeping Davis should ensure that the team is set at the tight end position for the next couple of years. That will allow them to focus on other positions during free agency and that draft.

Next: 5 Best Redskins Defensive Free Agent Targets

Overall, this signing could be a positive, but they definitely overpaid. If Davis can continue to be a solid backup for the next three years, then the Redskins will be happy. If he regresses at any point, the deal is a bit too expensive, as Davis’ price range was in the $2-$3 million per year range. Five million was just too much, so the Redskins may pay the price if Davis cannot continue his solid play into his mid-30s.

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