2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jarrad Davis

2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Jamal Adams, S, LSU Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama Ryan Anderson, LB, Alabama Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado Budda Baker, S, Washington Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee Garett Bolles, OT, Utah Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida Jake Butt, TE, Michigan Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida Pat Elflein, G, Ohio State Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama Dan Feeney, G, Indiana Devonte Fields, OLB, TCU Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M Davon Godchaux, DT, LSU Charles Harris, DE, Missouri Marquis Haynes, DE, Ole Miss Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State Josh Jones, S, N.C. State Sidney Jones, CB, Washington Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss Desmond King, CB, Iowa Kevin King, CB, Washington DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky Marshon Lattimore, CB, Onio State Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech Marcus Maye, S, Florida Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State Takkarist McKinley, DE/LB, UCLA Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA David Njoku, TE, Miami Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan Ethan Pocic, C, LSU Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin Haason Reddick, LB, Temple Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama John Ross, WR, Washington Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State Juju Smith-Schuster, WR, USC Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern Demarcus Walker, DE, Florida State DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin Davis Webb, QB, California Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU Marcus Williams, S, Utah Mike Williams, WR, Clemson Tim Williams, DE, Alabama Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan

Jarrad Davis, 6-1/238 Linebacker Florida

Jarrad Davis Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Very good instincts

Fast

Explosive flying around the field

Sudden athlete

Twitchy

Violent tackler

Can buckle an offensive lineman with speed to power

Has the ability to shed blocks

Can get off blocks and make tackle

Gifted pass-coverage linebacker

Impressive man-coverage ability versus tight ends and running backs

Can drop into zone coverage

Ball skills

Rangy

Good size

Tough run defender

Good tackler a lot of the time

Quick

Diagnosis skills

Very quick to read his keys

Read-and-react skills

Fits a 4-3 or 3-4 defense

Fits perfectly as a Will

Always around the ball

Quick to the flat

Upside

Plays hurt

Experienced

Great team leader

Field general

Passionate; loves football

Hard worker

Upside

Weaknesses:

Overaggressive at times

Goes for knockout blows, sometimes doesn’t wrap up

Banged up throughout 2016 season and predraft process

Summary: Prior to the 2015 season, Davis was an unknown and teammate Antonio Morrison was the linebacker who was considered a prospect for the NFL. That changed during Davis that season. In 2015, Florida featured one of the best defenses in the nation that led the program to a SEC East Championship and a surprising spot in the SEC Championship. While there were future first-round picks in the secondary with Keanu Neal and Vernon Hargreaves III, Davis was the player who may have been the Gators’ biggest breakout star of the 2015 season and was a much better linebacker than Morrison. NFL sources raved about David late in the 2015 season as he was all over the field for the Gators. When other players like Hargreaves seemed to take their foot off the pedal late in the season, Davis was playing like a man on fire. He totaled 94 tackles with 11 tackles for a loss, four passes broken up, an interception and 3.5 sacks in 2015. Late in the year, the junior really had a huge presence for Florida.

As a senior, Davis was often hurt and tried to play through a leg injury. He was never the same player as he was in 2015. Davis played nine games while hobbling around in some contests and not finishing some of them. He totaled 60 tackles, two sacks and four passes broken up in 2016. The rehab from injuries kept Davis from participating in the Senior Bowl and combine. However, he was tremendous at his pro day with a 40 of 4.5 seconds. His 40 time, broad jump and vertical jump would have been the best numbers of any linebacker at the combine.

Davis is a rare linebacker with a great skill set. He is very fast with sideline-to-sideline speed that allows him to cover a ton of ground. Davis is explosive as a runner and as a hitter with some real shock that surprises offensive linemen and ball-carriers. He also is a team leader who loves football. The senior is the epitome of the field general to call the plays, make the checks, and be a motivator in the huddle. Players who have played against Davis, have told WalterFootball.com that he is the real deal and is a terrific player.

Davis is all over the field as a run defender for the ground game. Routinely, one would see plays where Davis was phenomenally quick at reading the play and darting into the backfield to blow the play up. Not only does he explode into the backfield, he flies to the sideline, and throws his body around at the line of scrimmage.

For the most part, Davis is a good tackler and can hit with authority. He can be a little overaggressive and over-pursue, but generally he is sound about getting the ball-carrier on the ground. Davis is very physical at hitting running backs, quarterbacks, receivers, and offensive linemen. There are plays where he buckles offensive linemen with his dynamic speed and power crashing into them. Davis has a great motor as well.

Davis also demonstrated skills for the passing game and is a dangerous blitzer. In the short to intermediate zone, he does well with picking up receivers and also has shown some ball skills. As a professional, Davis could be an asset as a linebacker weapon to neutralize receiving-threat tight ends and running backs in man-to-man coverage. Davis should be a true three-down defender in the NFL.

Sources across the league love Davis. One scout said, “Jarrad is a more explosive player, and he was dynamic as a junior. Had an injuries as a senior, but he’s actually more stable an all-around prospect than Reuben Foster and less maintenance than Reuben. Plus, you’re not losing any speed or explosive play-making ability. He had some dominant games in 2015 where he took over. Plus, he can quarterback the defense. Jarrad can buckle an OL. He has speed and range to carry routes and make the play. Twitchy, fast, stout frame. Jarrad is faster, more explosive athletically, and finishes with more violence than Zach Cunningham. Jarrad’s injury was ongoing since preseason, so I gave him credit for playing through it. It validated how tough everyone said he is.” In the NFL, Davis has three down starting potential as soon as his rookie season. Being a run-and-chase Will (weakside) linebacker in a 3-4 defense would be a great fit for Davis. In a 4-3 defense, he could be a Will (weakside) linebacker or a Mike (middle) linebacker. In the 2017 NFL Draft, Davis has a shot to be a first-round pick in the back half. Some sources have Davis graded in the second round and believe that he will go there.



Player Comparison: Jonathan Vilma. Sources have compared Davis to Vilma, which makes a lot of sense. Vilma (6-1, 230) was a fast and instinctive linebacker who could do everything in the NFL. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and three-time Pro Bowler while being a leader on the Saints’ 2009 Super Bowl Championship team. Davis’ game is very similar to Vilma’s, and Davis could be an excellent pro linebacker like Vilma was.

NFL Matches: Miami, Detroit, New York Giants, Houston, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Los Angeles Chargers, Oakland, Denver, Kansas City, Cincinnati, San Francisco and Arizona

There are a lot of teams who could consider drafting Davis in the late first round and into Round 2. Miami had a big need at linebacker entering the offseason and even after free agency, the team could consider Davis in the first or second round. The Lions could use more linebacker talent, too. Davis would be a great fit for Detroit in Round 1 or 2.

The Raiders have a huge need at middle linebacker as the interior of their defense was shredded last year. Davis would be an instant upgrade. Staying in the AFC West, the Chargers are switching to a 4-3 defense and let Manti Te’o leave in free agency. If Davis makes it to Round 2, he could form a nice tandem with Denzel Perryman. Denver could use a linebacker upgrade after losing Danny Trevathan a year ago. Kansas City also could consider Davis as an understudy to Derrick Johnson.

The Texans need a linebacker upgrade next to Benardrick McKinney as Brian Cushing has become a liability on the field. Davis would be a perfect fit for what the Texans need and an immediate upgrade over Cushing. Houston has bigger needs in round one, but if good talent isn’t available at one of those positions, the organization could opt for Davis. The rival Colts need a linebacker upgrade, too, and Davis would be a great pick for them in the second round.

The Bills could use a Will (weakside) linebacker to add to their change to a 4-3. Davis could form an exciting tandem with Reggie Ragland.

The Bengals could use more linebacker talent next to Vontaze Burfict, and Davis could be a fit for them in Round 2.

The 49ers could use an inside linebacker upgrade, and Davis could be in play for them at the top of Day 2. Staying in the NFC West, Arizona needs an inside linebacker upgrade after moving on from Kevin Minter.

2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Jamal Adams, S, LSU Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama Ryan Anderson, LB, Alabama Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado Budda Baker, S, Washington Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee Garett Bolles, OT, Utah Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida Jake Butt, TE, Michigan Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida Pat Elflein, G, Ohio State Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama Dan Feeney, G, Indiana Devonte Fields, OLB, TCU Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M Davon Godchaux, DT, LSU Charles Harris, DE, Missouri Marquis Haynes, DE, Ole Miss Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State Josh Jones, S, N.C. State Sidney Jones, CB, Washington Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss Desmond King, CB, Iowa Kevin King, CB, Washington DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky Marshon Lattimore, CB, Onio State Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech Marcus Maye, S, Florida Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State Takkarist McKinley, DE/LB, UCLA Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA David Njoku, TE, Miami Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan Ethan Pocic, C, LSU Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin Haason Reddick, LB, Temple Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama John Ross, WR, Washington Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State Juju Smith-Schuster, WR, USC Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern Demarcus Walker, DE, Florida State DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin Davis Webb, QB, California Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU Marcus Williams, S, Utah Mike Williams, WR, Clemson Tim Williams, DE, Alabama Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan

RELATED LINKS:


2017 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s


2017 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings


2017 NFL Draft Scouting Reports








NFL Picks - Dec. 26


2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 25


NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 23


2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29


Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4