Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Analyst says surprising Eagles player will soon be 'household name'

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 6/30/23

The Philadelphia Eagles had high expectations for defensive tackle Jordan Davis when they took him with the 13th overall pick in the 2022 draft.

While Davis’ underwhelming rookie numbers show he did not meet those expectations, NFL.com analyst Nick Shook believes it’s only a matter of time before that changes.

“He didn't register a sack as a rookie, so you might not agree,” Shook said. “That's fine; I believe it will end up proving prescient. Davis was playing an important but understated role for the Eagles last season, occupying blockers and stuffing run lanes. Look no further than Philadelphia’s decision to hit the free-agent wire and sign not one but two veteran defensive tackles to fill the void when the rookie missed time with an ankle injury in the middle of last season. Davis will soon be a household name; I'll take the hat tips then.”

Good luck against this defense (@TheNickShook) pic.twitter.com/qRrkYKxEEB
— NFL GameDay (@NFLGameDay) June 29, 2023

Limited to 13 games and just five starts, Davis ended the 2022 season with 18 tackles, 12 pressures, 10 hurries, one tackle for loss and a pass defensed, per Pro Football Focus. He finished fifth among Eagles defensive tackles in total tackles, and he was the only Philly defensive lineman to play in 10 or more games and not register a sack.

However, Davis is expected to play a more prominent role on Philly’s defense in 2023 after the team parted ways with several lineman including Javon Hargrave, Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh.

“I definitely know what’s expected of me,” Davis told reporters in early June. “And I’m ready to meet those expectations. I understand that you’re asking a lot more of me and that’s OK, that’s what I’m here for. I’m lucky that I had that experience behind those guys to see what it took. But just try to take those lessons that they gave me and not let it go to waste.”

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