There are no first-round picks left on the Washington Commanders from previous head coach Ron Rivera's time with the franchise. Aside from defensive end Chase Young, none have really caught on elsewhere, either, which represents a damning indictment of talent evaluation and roster construction.
One of those is linebacker Jamin Davis. And final cuts have delivered another body blow to his chances of galvanizing his professional career.
Davis spent this summer with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately, he didn't do enough to stick around and was among their first departures before Sunday's cut-down deadline.
Jamin Davis' post-Commanders journey continues to spiral with Steelers exit
This is the latest major setback for Davis. And one he may not recover from.
The Commanders eventually gave up on him under the new regime when his switch to the defensive edge didn't go well. Davis has bounced around the league ever since, so one has to wonder just how many chances he has left before the NFL looks away entirely.
It's a sorry tale.
Davis was overdrafted by Rivera, who desperately needed to find a long-term solution at the defensive second level. The Commanders didn't know how to maximize his skill set, giving him responsibilities he clearly wasn't ready for over the early stages of his time in Washington.
And the ripple effects were enormous.
Confidence in the player dwindled. When head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters came into the fold, it didn't take long for them to make a judgment. Davis was let go, and it's been difficult to make a go of things elsewhere ever since.
Jamin Davis was set up to fail by former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera
The Steelers are well-stocked on the defensive side of things. Davis was always going to struggle, which proved to be the case. And now, the former Kentucky star faces an anxious wait to see if he'll get the chance to land on a practice squad.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing to have. Commanders fans were clamoring for Rivera to draft offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, who's emerged as a consistent blindside presence for the Minnesota Vikings. He went in a different, surprising direction with the No. 19 pick in 2021, which was one of many grave mistakes by the coach before he was eventually made surplus to requirements.
Fortunately, things look much more promising for Washington's linebacking corps entering the 2026 campaign.
Frankie Luvu is moving back to his off-ball role after having to spend more time on the edge last season. The Commanders signed Leo Chenal in free agency, who brings speed and athleticism in abundance. They also used the No. 7 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft on Sonny Styles, which is highly intriguing.
As for Davis? He's back on the proverbial scrap heap. The Steelers could bring him back on the practice squad, but there is just no telling for sure.
All he can do is wait and hope for the best. Everything after that is out of his hands.
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