Key Highlights
- But will he?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPro Football Focus writer Bradley Locker recently put out a piece detailing one free agent every NFL team cannot afford to lose, and for the Saints, that player was Davis, as he provided some compelling justification for a re-signing. The Saints overcame an inauspicious beginning to win four of their last five games and display real optimism heading into 2026.
- Even though Davis is one of the oldest linebackers in the league, he had a big say in that success. The 37-year-old was still a presence in the middle of New Orleans’ impressive defense, compiling an 80.3 PFF overall grade with an 88.9 PFF run-defense grade.
- Even though coverage is no longer Davis’ forte, he still held up solidly with a 68.3 PFF coverage mark. Davis has seemed like an every-year trade candidate on bottom-dwelling Saints teams.
- But with New Orleans now trying to improve for the short- and long-term, keeping the elder statesman in house should be the team’s goal. One of the most fascinating points Locker made was regarding the run defense component of Davis' game, as that was a major issue for the Saints all year.
- However, Davis was able to truly keep the top on that defense in many instances, holding things together behind an interior defensive line that struggled immensely against the run game for a decent chunk of the season. Having to put up a career high in tackles with 143 tells part of the story, with another component being him tying the lowest blitz count of his career at only 26 plays.
