The Jacksonville Jaguars have traded for Jordan Davis!
To learn more about Duval’s newest defensive tackle, we went straight to the source.
Here are 5 Questions with Brandon Lee Gowton, who covered Davis’ time with the Philadelphia Eagles over the past four and a half seasons for SB Nation’s Bleeding Green Nation.
Question 1: Did the Eagles’ decision to trade Davis surprise you? Why did they feel comfortable making the move?
I can’t say it was expected after the Eagles just signed him to a contract extension
back in March. But pretty much no one would’ve thought that it was possible to get a first-round pick AND a second-round pick for him.
The Eagles felt comfortable moving on because the value was simply too good to turn down. In addition, the Eagles reportedly have interest in signing fellow defensive tackle Moro Ojomo to an extension. Keeping Ojomo wouldn’t have been possible with the Eagles having both Davis and Jalen Carter on the books. Now they have a more realistic path to retaining Ojomo.
Davis is a good player. But the Eagles making him the eighth-highest paid interior defender in the NFL wasn’t really jibing with how little they trust him to play, especially on pass rush downs:
Question 2: Jaguars GM James Gladstone has made it clear he’s searching for “intangibly rich” players. What can you tell us about Davis as a person?
It’s impossible not to enjoy Davis as a person. He’s very much a good vibes addition to the Jags’ locker room. He’s charming, funny, accountable … the list goes on. His teammates voted him as a team captain this year for a reason.
Jags fans will find it very easy to enjoy his personality.
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Question 3: Now, for Davis as a player. How would you describe his impact on defense, and where on the field does he play at his best?
At his best, Davis is an impactful run defender. He was especially good in this regard last season. His presence as a nose tackle has allowed the Eagles to defend the run from lighter boxes. I’m guessing this is the vision for him in Jacksonville, as well.
But he hasn’t exactly been a dominant run defender this year. Perhaps in part because he’s been playing through some injuries. And, as previously noted, he’s not going to provide much in the pass rush department. Though I’m interested to see if the Jags give him more opportunities in that capacity. He’s incredibly athletic, so, maybe there’s still some untapped potential. But he doesn’t always play with great pad level, making him easier to block.
I do think it’s fair to say that his impact goes beyond the box score. At the same time, he has 1.5 sacks, 5 TFLs, and 3 QB hits in his last 14 games. You’d like to see a bit more production than that, especially relative to the investment made in him.
Question 4: What’s something you learned about Davis during his time in Philadelphia?
Off the field? The big man can sing!
On the field? His hustle has stood out at times. I think back to his second season in 2023 when he helped to force Josh Allen out on a key play in the game:
Or his field goal blocking ability:
Question 5: If you could describe Davis to Jaguars fans in one word, what would it be?
Likeable!
Big thanks to Brandon for taking the time to answer our questions!
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Jags fans, let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
