The Washington Commanders' roster construction shift came in large part due to Ron Rivera's high-end draft picks failing to meet the required standard. Adam Peters could see it a mile away, and he decided to go for a complete reset rather than drag things out.
None of Rivera's first four-round selections remain with the club. Some were removed from the equation before Peters' arrival, while others were either traded or released soon after. One of those was linebacker Jamin Davis, who failed to make a successful transition to the edge-rushing role and was waived during the 2024 campaign.
It looked from a long way as if Davis was never going to meet his draft billing. Rivera saw something in the second-level presence, but there was no help around him. By the time Washington figured things out, it was too late, and the arrivals of Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner all but sealed his fate.
Former Commanders star Jamin Davis is made surplus to requirements again
Perhaps most concerning for Davis is his failure to catch on elsewhere. Spells with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Jets ended almost as quickly as they started. The Las Vegas Raiders felt there was something to be salvaged, signing the former Kentucky standout to the practice squad before moving him to the active roster.
Davis even got some game time in Week 11 against the Dallas Cowboys, gaining three tackles from 19.3 percent of Las Vegas' defensive snaps. As it turned out, this would be his last involvement with the struggling franchise.
The Raiders released Davis before their daunting Week 14 test versus the Denver Broncos. There is a chance he goes back onto the practice squad, but there is just no telling for sure right now. And it's starting to look like the once-promising college prospect is on a one-way trip out of the league.
This is a sad trajectory for Davis. He had talent, but Rivera overdrafted him and tasked him with responsibilities he wasn't ready for, which didn't suit his physical attributes. And as Commanders fans know, this wasn't the only draft disaster from the previous head coach.
What the future holds for Davis remains to be seen. His days as a starter have long gone, replaced by uncertainty and bouncing around from team to team. But if he cannot find a role on a woeful squad like the Raiders, one has to wonder what other franchise is going to take the plunge.
Time will tell on that, but it's not looking great for Davis.