Washington Redskins should be wary of free agent CB Vontae Davis

The Washington Redskins will have to devote some time to finding a starting cornerback this offseason, after Kendall Fuller was offloaded to the Kansas City Chiefs.

There are several options to choose from for the Washington Redskins, in both the NFL Draft and in the incoming free agency class. Another name was added to the latter recently: Vontae Davis, formerly the No. 1 cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts.

Former Colts’ Pro Bowl CB Vontae Davis, released over a medical issue in November and a free agent now, has been cleared from his core injury surgery done late in season, per source. Teams expected to have interest prior to free agency.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 12, 2018

If the last name ‘Davis’ and the initials ‘V.D.’ sound familiar, it’s because they are. Davis is the younger brother of Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis. The two both grew up in the Washington D.C. area.

Drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, Davis has made a name for himself as a stout cornerback. From 2009 to 2016, Davis accumulated 21 interceptions and 86 pass deflections, flying under the radar as one of the best defensive backs in the nation.

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In 2012, Davis was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, and he would later sign a deal worth $9 million a year. At the time, Davis was well-worth it. His best years came in 2014 and 2015, in which he nabbed four interceptions each year and logged 35 total pass deflections. His defensive coordinator in those seasons was Greg Manusky, the current defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins.

On the surface, signing Davis seems like it would be a very good move for the Washington Redskins. He has connections in the nation’s capital, and he has a consistent track record as a player. But if the team is truly considering bringing the younger Davis to D.C., they should be wary.

Vontae Davis may be the younger brother, but to call him young, by a cornerback’s standards, is not entirely accurate. Davis turns 30 this May. As we documented earlier in the season, when talking about Josh Norman, the age of 30 is the historical point where good cornerbacks become… less good. At that age, injuries also become a greater concern, and for Davis, who is coming off a season-ending injury in 2017, that risk is compounded.

Furthermore, Davis is not a slot cornerback, and that is where the Washington Redskins would need him most. He’s played exclusively on the outside throughout his professional career, and although his experience could bode well for a move inside, there are plenty of risks that come with banking on success in such a situation.

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To the Washington Redskins, Davis would bring some quality traits. He’s smart, he’s experienced, and he has a resume as a top-notch cornerback in the NFL. But at the same time, the amount of quality years left in the tank for Davis is limited. Teams will look to overpay Davis in free agency, and if the Washington Redskins are thinking about signing him, they have to consider the risks. Davis is a talented player, but the uncertainty surrounding him makes a hefty monetary investment tough to commit to.

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