Free Agent Signing: DL Ryan Davis

03/13/2017

DB+

The Buffalo Bills have signed defensive lineman Ryan Davis to a two year contract. Davis has been in the league for five seasons and has spent most of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. That was up until they cut him during final cuts prior to the 2016 season.

Davis signed with the Dallas Cowboys eleven days later and appeared in 155 total snaps during the 2016 season. He didn’t register a sack with Dallas, but he contributed 2 QB hits and 5 QB hurries.

According to Pro Football Focus, Davis has only appeared in 24.9% of his teams’ snaps, but has put together some decent pass rushing statistics. He has compiled 11 sacks, 16 QB hits, and 42 QB hurries, which equates to a QB pressure just about every 8 snaps in his career.

Davis has a knack for making a play on the ball, causes strip sacks and recovers fumbles. Three FF and 4 FR

— Cover 1 (@Cover1Bills) March 13, 2017

He is a bigger defensive player that fits new head coach Sean McDermott‘s and defensive coordinator Leslie Frasier’s typical defensive end mold now weighing 275 pounds.

Pro Football Focus graded Davis at 71.2 overall, including a 68.4 pass rush grade and a 70.4 run defense grade for the 2016 season.

But when you turn on the film, it becomes clear that his skills will be best utilized on pass rushing downs. The Bills will be able to line him up on the inside at 3 tech or 4i on obvious pass rushing downs. He has the quickness to win versus centers and guards. On this play, he beats the guard inside for the sack.

***The following plays will be in the video below***

He shows speed off the snap, an arm over move, and the athleticism to change direction for the sack.

Having a rotational player with his skill set will allow the Bills to have fresh legs when the defensive tackles and defensive ends need a blow or in sub packages, something McDermott loves to implement.

He displayed some very good pass rushing moves, including the swipe, double handed swipe, swim, arm over, rip, and bull rush. The consistency to win with those moves needs to improve, but he has shown the ability to counter offensive linemen. Having an initial move, then a counter for the offensive lineman’s technique is something not many role players possess.

Davis causes a strip sack versus the Colts on this play by chopping down on the LT’s left arm and swatting it outward to give him the edge.

He then rips through, en route to QB Hasselbeck.

Doug Whaley has always done a phenomenal job of picking up talent in free agency. That talent has paid off on the field, and I expect that Davis will be another player along those lines.

Ryan Davis’ career:

He has a skill set that should pay off in a defensive system that covets players with versatility along the line. With how the staff loves to move guys around, you can be sure Davis will see his fair share of the field.