NY Jets sign speedy LB Jarrad Davis to one-year deal

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Jarrad Davis Photo by Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK Cent02 7cezwj2a09wdnsm1hj8 Original

The NY Jets have reportedly made their first signing of the free-agency period agreeing to a deal with former Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis.

As reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Jets have signed Davis to a one-year, $7 million contract to add further depth to their linebacker corps.

The Jets entered the offseason with a dire need at the linebacker position and they were expected to address it. While not the most high-profile player on the market, Davis fills a need and fits the mold of what new head coach Robert Saleh is looking for in his linebackers.

He’s fast, athletic, and was very good in coverage a year ago. The biggest issue for him has been consistency.

Jarrad Davis is a worthwhile addition to the NY Jets’ defense

A first-round pick of the Detroit Lions back in the 2017 NFL Draft, Davis got off to a rough start early in his NFL career. He started all 14 games in his rookie season, but earned a poor 52.8 Pro Football Focus grade.

That included an absolutely abysmal 40.0 coverage grade that ranked him as one of the worst coverage linebackers in the NFL. And while he remained a starter through his first three years, that trend continued.

It culminated in his worst season yet in 2019 where he finished with a league-worst 38.6 PFF grade and a 30.0 coverage grade that also ranked worst at his position.

Davis was arguably the worst linebacker in football, but he showed signs of promise in 2020.

The former Florida star played in 14 games and finished with a career-best 62.2 PFF grade that ranked 30th at his position. More importantly, his 72.1 coverage grade was far and away a career-high and one of the better grades in the league.

The only problem was that this came in a reduced role as he started only four games and was on the field for right around 30 percent of defensive snaps.

Davis is someone who was never fully maximized during his time in Detroit. But under the right coaching staff, it’s possible that he could harness his athleticism and reach his full potential.

That’s what the Jets are betting on. Only time will tell if it pans out.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.