Why Thomas Davis could be in play for the Washington Redskins

Thomas Davis may not be the perfect fit at linebacker for the Washington Redskins, but he could appeal to the team in a leadership role.

On Friday, many NFL teams made some of their final cuts ahead of free agency. Teams elected to part ways with players to free up salary cap space or that simply didn’t fit their vision moving forward.

One of those players was Thomas Davis. The long-time linebacker was cut by the Los Angeles Chargers despite a productive 2019 season that saw him start all 16 games and record 112 tackles and a sack. Davis will add another intriguing name to the linebacker market and even despite his advanced age, he could interest the Redskins.

Davis is entering his age 37 season in 2020. And he has had some knee injuries in years past. So, on the surface he wouldn’t look like a great fit for the ‘Skins. But, there are a few reasons why he could be a logical addition, at the right price.

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The first is that the team is obviously weak at the linebacker spot. They have some options with upside including Cole Holcomb and Shaun Dion Hamilton, but they aren’t proven. Beyond them, last year’s leading tackler, Jon Bostic, is a free agent, Reuben Foster‘s health is a major question mark and he may not be ready for 2020, and Ryan Anderson may not be a natural fit in a 4-3 defense. Even if they bring back Bostic and everything works out well, it would be nice to have an experienced option who fits nicely into a 4-3 defense.

Davis is just that. He has played 192 games in his career with 174 starts. He has been a staple in the 4-3 defenses he has been a part of and was a first-team All-Pro in 2015. He may not be the player he was that season, but he can still be an effective starter at one of the outside linebacker spots. And at the very least, he would be good depth.

Davis also has a ton of experience playing in Ron Rivera‘s scheme. When Rivera was in Carolina, Davis was a starter for him from 2011 onward. In those years, Davis racked up three Pro Bowl nods, the All-Pro nod, 473 tackles, 17 sacks, 10 interceptions, 30 pass defenses, and 10 forced fumbles.

Per season, it worked out to 59 tackles, two sacks, 1.3 picks, 10 pass defenses, and 10 forced fumbles. That’s a pretty good impact, and it’s not like he waned much down the stretch for the team. Sure, he’s not quite as quick in coverage as he used to be. But he’s still a really good run defender who can stick with pass catchers enough to make some plays in that regard.

Finally, Davis is a really good veteran leader and would be a nice addition for the Washington locker room. They have a lot of young talent in the front seven, but it would be nice for them to have a seasoned veteran with a lot of experience to help guide them as they grow under Rivera. Davis, a 14-year veteran and well-respected man, would give them just that.

Davis isn’t a perfect fit for the Redskins. Obviously, he’s at the tail end of his NFL career and he could regress at any point. But if he can still be a part-time starter, mentor the young players, and help improve the locker room, it would be worth considering adding him on a cheap, one or two-year deal.

Consider what the team did with Donald Penn last season. He helped shore up a weakness, didn’t come at a hefty cost, and afforded Geron Christian a chance to learn in more of a part-time role. That would be what Davis would do this season along with the added bonus of being a great leader.

Plus, if Davis comes cheap enough, the ‘Skins could still add another top linebacker in free agency. Or they could bring back Bostic and use a committee approach for their unit in 2020 while focusing on adding a true three-down player at the position in the following offseason. Davis would at least give them experience and depth and wouldn’t preclude them from signing someone else, though. So, for that reason and his relationship with Rivera, he should be considered.

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It may not happen. Davis may want to play for a true contender. Or the Redskins may focus their efforts on a guy like Cory Littleton or Blake Martinez. There are better, longer-term options for the ‘Skins, but they shouldn’t rule out adding a potential leader like Davis if the two sides believe the fit is right.

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