Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters left no stone unturned in the pursuit of making the improvements needed this offseason. Unsurprisingly, his priority has centered on defensive reinforcements in free agency, which were desperately needed to ensure new coordinator Daronte Jones has everything needed to flourish.
And according to one team reporter, a recent signing that fans didn't pay much attention to could mean a lot more than originally anticipated.
The Commanders made some big splashes on the defensive edge with Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson. Tim Settle Jr. was brought in to solidify the interior alongside Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw. However, David Harrison of WUSA9 outlined the role D.J. Davidson could play with a seamless transition to Washington over the summer.
Commanders could see a bigger role than expected for D.J. Davidson
Davidson spent the first four seasons with the New York Giants without making much of an impression. Injuries didn't help, but Harrison revealed via team sources that the Commanders are looking to put his versatility to good use next season.
"On the Commanders' signing DT D.J. Davidson, a source indicates the team is planning on running some defensive sets with three bigs, so adding more depth in that area was a big reason for the signing.
"Davidson has nose/DT flex, and imagining him playing alongside Tim Settle is attractive."
This is a telling statement. Davidson was seen as a camp body fighting to make the 53-man roster. That might still be the case, but if Harrison's report is accurate, he's got a significant opportunity in front of him.
Of course, Davidson has to prove himself over the summer. He's got the size and length to be impactful. With a better run of luck on the health front and if the lineman can build confidence gradually, the Commanders could easily make him a key rotational presence within Jones' projected schematic concepts.
Jones plans to make Washington's defense more creative, more aggressive, and more explosive. Davidson has some of those tendencies, but expecting miracles is unrealistic. Carving out a role on New York's imposing defensive front proved too difficult, but he must see the Commanders as the perfect place to galvanize his career.
The door is open for Davidson. He'll still have to earn the role Harrison laid out, but the former 2022 fifth-round pick out of Arizona State has the physical profile to play the 5-tech defensive end role in a 3-4 base front.
Convincing Jones that he is worthy of these responsibilities is the primary objective. And fans should watch his progress closely in the coming months.