Of the two linebackers the Cincinnati Bengals drafted in the 2019 NFL draft, sixth-round pick Deshaun Davis is understandably receiving less attention than Germaine Pratt.
That might not last long.
Takeo Spikes — another storied Auburn linebacker product — has plenty to say when it comes to Davis. His comments to the team’s official site say quite a bit about who the Bengals are getting:
“The beautiful thing about him is he’s advanced from the mental side of it. Mentally he’s there,” Spikes says. “I’m happy the Bengals gave him an opportunity to fill a spot and I do believe he can fill a spot.”
“He’s a big picture guy. A really big-picture guy,” Spikes says. “Most guys are into the fame and all that goes with playing. But he wanted to know if he did certain things to get this, how he could leverage it to be in a better position when the game is over. That really attracted me to him.”
When someone like Spikes talks linebackers, folks should stop and listen. The Bengals made him a first-round pick in 1998 and he played through the 2012 season with four different teams.
Davis lasted quite a bit longer on draft day because he was “undersized” at 5’11”, but he could carve out a lengthy pro stay too. He might not take the gig from Preston Brown in the middle on early downs, but serving as key depth and a presence on special teams right away could guarantee he sticks as the second name on the depth chart.
Of course, it’s May and positive comments are bound to come out about a draft class. But it sounds like Davis has been close with Spikes for a long time and the Bengals coaching staff seems to think he’s steal material, so it might be good for Bengals to get accustomed to hearing his name.
