It might be weird for Detroit Lions fans to process the information, but it’s legit. Linebacker Jarrad Davis is getting a lot of hype and respect as one of the more attractive free agents hitting the LB market this year.
Among many outlets noting that there seems to be a robust demand for Davis, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager tweeted out that he’s hearing a lot of buzz about the 2017 first-rounder. Similar sentiments were echoed on ESPN Radio and Sirius XM NFL Radio in the past couple of days, including a recent quip from former GM and current host Pat Kirwan on Davis,
“He’s going to have more interest than you might think because there’s a perception that the coaching in Detroit wasn’t good for him”
Speaking to GM’s and coaches over last 24 hours, a name that continues to come up and is a guy who might have a fairly competitive market is UFA and former Lions first round pick LB Jarrad Davis.
Matt Milano and Lavonte David are off the board. Davis viewed as a viable LB.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) March 13, 2021
There is a definite disconnect between Davis’s performance the last three seasons in Detroit and the notion that he’s someone who teams could get into a bidding war to land in free agency. But several people connected around the league are all saying the same thing, that there will be no shortage of teams that want Davis despite his underwhelming play for the vast majority of his four seasons in Detroit.
While Lions coach Dan Campbell specifically cited Davis as someone he really liked during interviews right after taking the job, it’s unlikely the Lions would enter into, or prevail in a bidding war for Davis.