Davis will compete at Nickel Cornerback this training camp
The NFL Draft is over and the Miami Dolphins have yet to take their foot off the gas. Mike Tannenbaum and Chris Grier are still aggressively stocking their roster viatrades and Free Agency. One recent addition that fans should keep a close eye on is URFA Utah State Cornerback, Jalen Davis.
Davis’ biggest knock is that he’s undersized at 5’9” 185 pounds, but his tape has serious pop. There’s no doubt that Davis will compete with Bobby McCain for the Nickel Cornerback spot this training camp. Now, will he present a challenge or even stick on the squad? We’ll know quickly in camp if the game is too big for him or not.
Davis’ 2017 Season at Utah State was the best of his 4-year career. He stacked up 33 tackles, 5 interceptions (3 of those were returned for a touchdown), 4 sacks, 15 pass breakups, 5 tackles for a loss, and a fumble recovery! As a starter all four years, he set the school record for pass breakups at 37 and passes defended at 48. Can you say Wow!
Gaudy stats earned him a nomination on four All-American lists
The big question is, can he play at this same level against bigger and stronger NFL players? Reality is 5’9” is small. Davis isn’t Jakeem Grant tiny… but he’s small. Davis will have to consistently compete against larger opponents to have success. This won’t be an easy task… unless he’s truly special.
Davis is feisty with very good ball skills and doesn’t shy away from contact
M.J.’s take from the tape:
“Davis likes to deliver hits on QB’s and receivers, take on blockers, and was a fairly strong and sure tackler. While small, his strength and aggression compensated nicely more often than not.”
“These observations of his coverage were based on limited tape. His lack of length and elite speed really hurt him on deep crossing patterns. In deep zone, he was a tad off on occasion as well. But, in underneath zones, he was cagey, aware, and on 9-Routes he was glued on to receivers. Of course, those 9-Routes didn’t have 6’4” receivers with QBs dropping in balls with NFL accuracy. On the positive side, if he does play nickel, he’ll see few giants on his assignments. Also, his receiving skills were exceptional. This big-play potential was likely a major reason the Phins brought him in.”
Davis ran a 4.4 at his Pro Day with 11 reps of 225lbs, 36′ vertical, and 10′ broad jump. The physical skills are there, but his success will be determined by the mental side of his game. Will he prepare like a pro? How quick will he decipher more complex defensive schemes? And will he absorb the massive amount of info coming his way?
Again, his tape and stats were gained against inferior competition compared to the NFL. While you can only judge him on who he played, the projection is more likely going to be worse than the same. But, there is a real chance that Davis ends up a nice post-draft find.
Davis could bring excellent depth at a thin nickel spot
Even the cheapest pay per head bookie providers will agree that the Dolphins have recently had some success with their selections of undrafted free agents. Last year, six undrafted players made the Dolphins roster: Maurice Smith, Chase Allen, Eric Smith, Matt Haack, De’veon Smith, and Torry McTyer.
Like most franchises, Gase and Co. put a high value on Cornerbacks. Gase has said, like QBs, you can never have enough good ones. Miami added Minkah Fitzpatrick with their 1st Round Pick and Phinsnews loved that move. If Davis ends up a gem, this secondary could be exceptional. But we are a long ways off from that bold prediction coming true. Still, Davis is a player Phins Fans should keep a close eye on come training camp. You never know. What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins news fans thoughts about this latest undrafted free agent signing?
