With The First Pick
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Lions: 3 players in need of a good 2020 campaign to avoid replacement

By Austin Heeres

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 20: Kerryon Johnson #33 of the Detroit Lions plays against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on October 20, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 20: Kerryon Johnson #33 of the Detroit Lions plays against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on October 20, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Jarrod Davis has much to prove to the Lions. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Jarrod Davis has much to prove to the Lions. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Jarrad Davis, Linebacker

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The former first-round pick has fallen to the back of the pack. He was a team captain for two years, the starting middle linebacker straight out of the draft, and amassed almost 200 tackles in his first two seasons.

In 2019, he struggled, and in turn, the Lions opted to drop the fifth-year option on his contract. “Struggled” is a word to be used loosely, because he was much worse than “struggled.” According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Davis ranked 84th among linebackers with a 40.4 defensive grade.

Granted, he played in mostly pass coverage situations, but that’s where he struggled the worst (32.6 coverage grade). To put these numbers into perspective, they correlate well to grades in school. So, Davis failed…mightily.

He ranked last among those who played significantly for Detroit. After 2020, he will become a free agent in the offseason. Second-year linebacker Jahlani Tavai will most likely be his replacement, opening up spots on the defense for rookies in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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