Grading the rest of the Redskins defensive free-agent signings
LB Thomas Davis
The Thomas Davis signing made perfect sense for the Redskins. They had a lack of talent at the linebacker position. They needed defensive leaders. Ron Rivera is looking to install his defense and create a culture in the locker room.
Davis can help with all of these, but in particular, he will be a massive boon for the lattermost point.
Davis has been an excellent locker room presence during his career. He’s a great guy, by all accounts, and he was one of the leaders on the Carolina Panthers’ 2015 Super Bowl team. He improbably came back from three ACL tears in two years to be an All-Pro player and one of the best linebackers in the league. His determination and leadership should rub off on other Redskins and help them to find success as a cohesive unit, something that the ‘Skins struggled to do under Jay Gruden and Greg Manusky.
There are some concerns with Davis. He is 37 and he could regress at any time. But last season with the Los Angeles Chargers, he logged 112 tackles and played all 16 games for the team. He should still be a good run stopper for the Redskins, at the very least, and if not, he’ll provide a lot as basically a backup and extra coach on the sidelines.
Davis signed a one-year deal worth $3.5 million with the Redskins. That may seem like a lot for an older player but again, Davis’ impact on this organization will go beyond the field. He could be a starter for the squad, but even if not, he should be a big-time positive for the team and will give Rivera a familiar face as he tries to turn things around in Washington.
All told, the Davis signing is a great one. There is literally no downside to bringing him in on a deal like this.
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