Carlos Davis, Nebraska
Round Grade: 7th/UDFA
Value: Correct
Percentage Available: 100%
Davis feels like a “Rod Marinelli-type” defensive tackle on paper. Davis is 6-foot-2 and 313 pounds with 32-inch arms. While his body mass is not lacking, his height and length are smaller than the ideal constraints for defensive tackles. However, with a 4.82-second 40-yard dash and 4.52-second short shuttle, Davis’s athleticism is through the roof and it potentially makes his a draftable commodity.
Davis is an extremely raw defensive tackle. He can help in run support as a big body who can clog holes. His hand placement and power can force sluggish guards out of position to wreak havoc on running backs. However, for all the problems he can create, he doesn’t have much production. In four years of college, Davis totaled 59 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks.
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The short arms can make a world of difference especially if the tackle is shorter and less agile like Davis. By nature, he has a harder time coming off blocks and doesn’t cover much area as he is quite stiff. As a run stopper, tackles are constantly required to contort their bodies or use their hands to push off blocks to make plays. He just didn’t do enough of that at the collegiate level.
Similarly, as a pass rusher, his athletic profile limits his creativity. (There is also a possibility that he just hasn’t developed much). While his initial burst isn’t bad, his technique is all over the place. His agility limits his ability to run stunts and just win with speed. This also isn’t considering his pad level, which is higher than it should be for someone with a relatively lower center of gravity.
Davis needs a lot of work to make an NFL roster, but I think I might know the guy fit to take on such a project?…
The Cowboys need defensive line help as no team has enough pass rushers. However, this class seems to be top-heavy which means the Cowboys will need some luck to strike big on a premium pick. If things go as anticipated, the Cowboys might have themselves a defensive tackle or two for the future.