Sean Davis, S, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers seem to have moved on from Sean Davis, who was a second-round draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Currently, the team has a pair of first-round picks slated as starters, with Terrell Edmunds and Minkah Fitzpatrick, acquired via trade last September.
Prior to those acquisitions, Davis was a starter at the back of the Steelers’ defense, and a very solid option at the safety spot. His best season for Pittsburgh was back in 2017, when he was used primarily as a strong safety down in the box. He notched 92 tackles, including seven for a loss, and also contributed a sack, a forced fumble, and three interceptions. He even began his career on the outside, playing cornerback for the Steelers as a rookie.
Pittsburgh moved him to free safety for the 2018 campaign, and while Steelers fans might not believe that is his best role, Davis certainly feels comfortable at the back of the defense. “I take pride in being the last line of defense,” David told the Tribune-Review back in 2018.
Davis missed all but the season opener last year, suffering a shoulder injury against the New England Patriots that put him on the shelf for the season. But his versatility might make him attractive to potential new teams, and that is something Davis likely understands. He addressed this last season, telling PennLive when asked about returning to a lineup with both Fitzpatrick and Edmunds “[o]bviously I’m a safety so I could compete for the safety spot wherever. But I’m also versatile. I can play a lot, they can create certain packages. So I’m down for that. I’m a competitor, so yeah, I really don’t know. But I’m pretty sure I’d find a way on the field.”
With the ability to play down in the box, as a single-high safety, or even as a boundary cornerback, Davis can fill a variety of roles for a new team. An organization looking for depth at any – or all – of those spots would be lucky to get him on the roster.
After ten years of practicing law in the Washington, D.C., area, Mark Schofield now dedicates his time to his first love: The game of football. The former college quarterback’s work has been featured a number of places, including The Washington Post, Bleacher Report, SB Nation, Pro Football Weekly and the Matt Waldman Rookie Scouting Portfolio.