Georgia football star defensive tackle Jordan Davis is looking to be an early 2022 NFL draft selection. Davis’ strong suit is stopping the run. He played on some elite run defenses throughout his career with the Georgia Bulldogs.
Now, Davis is being compared to former NFL great Ted Washington. Who is Ted Washington? Why is Ted Washington an interesting comparison to Jordan Davis?
Ted Washington played an incredible 17-year career in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Denver Broncos. Washington is a massive nose tackle much like Davis. He is 6-foot-5, 365-pounds and is not a fun guy to run block.
Ted Washington was not a great pass rusher, but recorded 34.5 sacks over his NFL career. Davis may be a little more mobile and better adapted to the modern game than Washington, who played from 1991-2007.
Ted Washington finished his NFL career with 763 tackles, four Pro Bowls, and 10 forced turnovers. The San Francisco 49ers selected Washington out of Louisville with the No. 25 pick of 1991 NFL draft.
Unfortunately for Jordan Davis, he will not play from 1991-2007. Modern NFL offenses are more pass-happy and will not cater as much to his biggest strength.
Still, Davis has a role in the NFL. Not every defensive tackle has to be an elite pass rusher. Davis was solid at rushing the passer, but not spectacular throughout his Georgia football career. He totaled nine sacks in his four season Georgia career. NFL teams still need to stop the run. If then can’t then opposing offenses will assert their will upon them.
Jordan Davis will boost one lucky team’s run defense. Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has to say about Davis:
Beefy, mountainous nose tackle with the size, power and will to clog the drain and alter the offense’s desire to run between the tackles. Davis has anchor and quick-shed talent to eviscerate single blocks and successfully occupy double teams, allowing linebackers to thrive in pursuit of ball-carriers. He plays upright, lacking agility and reactive quickness to mark up a stat sheet with any consistency, but that’s not what he’s asked to do. Davis won’t be as effective against outside-zone teams and won’t offer much rush, but he could become one of the league’s best run-pluggers as soon as he takes the field.
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