Former New York Giants draft pick and defensive tackle D.J. Davidson didn’t pan out after the team took him with a fifth-round draft pick in 2022, but he has a new opportunity ahead.
Davidson has joined the Washington Commanders according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday. In Davidson’s time with the Giants, he tallied just 49 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and three pass deflections.
The former Arizona State standout earned All-Pac 12 in 2021 and caught former Giants general manager Joe Schoen’s attention. Davidson had 137 tackles, five sacks, six pass deflections, and a fumble recovery in four seasons with ASU.
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Giants head coach John Harbaugh has put his own stamp on the roster since taking over as head coach this offseason, and Davidson wasn’t necessarily in the mix for defensive line depth. New York notably signed defensive lineman Sam Roberts this offseason.
It’s also possible the Giants could go for more defensive line depth in the draft. New York notably doesn’t have a lot of depth behind Dexter Lawrence in particular.
For Davidson, it’s a chance to start over with an NFC East rival in the nation’s capital. He joins a Commanders crew that could use more depth in the trenches.
Washington has Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, and Tim Settle Jr. as the starters. Backups Johnny Newton, Shy Tuttle, and Ricky Barber also expected to contribute.
That means Davidson could find a niche in the rotation and on special teams. With the Giants, he never eclipsed 35% of the snaps on defense or special teams plays.
The opportunity is his with the Commanders as long as he can prove himself in organized team activities, mini camps, and training camp. That said, the Commanders may not be done adding defensive line depth with the draft around the corner.
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