Thomas Davis spent 13 years with the Carolina Panthers. After a one-year stint in Los Angeles, he is joining Washington heading into 2020, a move that he said was a shrewd one considering that their current defensive unit can “wreck the game.”
Thomas Davis says "first and foremost" reason to sign with Redskins was Ron Rivera. But he adds the "pieces are in place" for the Redskins defense to "wreck the game"
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 31, 2020
The idea that Washington's defense can make that significant of an impact all comes without considering who they could add with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Many have projected that Ohio State defensive end Chase Young could be the name that joins the group, further adding to a unit that will be overseen by first-year head coach Ron Rivera, who has extensive experience alongside Davis.
Davis was particularly complimentary of Rivera, saying via Ben Standig of The Athletic:
“He's a guy that played the game. … [He understands] it's not about tearing guys down but lifting them up.”
If the defense is to improve, it will have to begin with defending the running game. Washington yielded an average of 146.2 yards per game on the ground in 2019, the second-highest total in the league.
Davis started all 16 games last season with the Chargers and accrued 112 combined tackles, his first time surpassing the 100-tackle plateau since 2016 with the Panthers when he was named to the Pro Bowl.
The NFC East figures to present stout competition for any defense with the Cowboys and Eagles boasting two of the league's more efficient offenses for stretches. The veteran leadership of Davis figures to have an impactful effect on Washington, who is eyeing its first playoff appearance since 2015.
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