New York Giants linebacker Tae Davis has quietly worked his way up the depth chart and could have a major role with the team in 2019.
Davis was signed by the Giants last year as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee-Chattanooga and made the cut in 2018.
The 23-year-old played in 14 games in his rookie season, but started in just four. He did make the most of his playing time, as Davis totaled two sacks, four QB Hits and 33 combined tackles.
Davis has now gone from undrafted last season to playing with the ones this offseason. It has been quite the progression for the 6-foot-1, 241-pound linebacker.
“Coming in last year, I was pretty unknown, there were a few things I knew I could do that the coaches wanted to see that I could do,” Davis told Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. “And I’ve come a long way since then. And working with the ones is just a testament to my hard work and all the extra work I’ve been putting in on my own and with the other guys and the coaches.”
Davis has also stated he knows he has the trust of his coaches, which is apparent when you look at how much he was used later in the 2018 campaign.
While Davis will be the choice to play on passing downs over B.J. Goodson because of his speed, he still has some work to do in order to get to the level Goodson is as a run-stopper.
On a defense that struggled mightily against the run last season, that’s an important thing for Davis to pick up. Regardless, it looks as though Davis has at least carved out a role for himself Big Blue’s defense this upcoming season.
