Detroit Lions Draft Profiles: Carl Davis, DT, Iowa

Finally, the answer on the Ndamukong Suh front has come, with the Detroit Lions not re-signing the defensive tackle and striking a deal to replace him with Haloti Ngata. The Lions haven’t been active on the defensive tackle front in free agency, meaning they’re just as likely to add a player early in the 2015 NFL Draft at the position as they are to sign someone else. Iowa’s Carl Davis is a Detroit native, and a durable, tough player that the Lions could choose to help fill the void well into the future.

Notable Combine Measurables

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Height: 6’5″

Weight: 320

40-Yd Dash: 5.07 seconds

20-Yd Shuttle: 2.91 seconds

3-Cone Drill: 7.91 seconds

Vertical Jump: 33

Broad Jump: 8’7″

225-lb Bench Press: N/A

Traits And Projected Round

Davis is a solid interior presence who’s large frame is nearly immovable. For someone well over 300 pounds he’s able to remain agile while being a rock in the line. He’s quick enough to make plays outside the pocket or in and around the line. Many question how he uses his size and his technique with consideration to body moves, but for years, Davis has been one of the top interior linemen in the Big Ten and a solid run stuffer and backfield presence.

Considering all the depth at the tackle position, expect Davis to be a player that goes in the second round. He could be expected to come off the board in the first round, however, especially if a team feels his skill-set is too good to pass up early on.

Why The Detroit Lions Could Draft Carl Davis

Without much of anything behind Ngata, Detroit’s going to need all different kinds of defensive tackles to fill the void in their system. Davis can be used in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 depending on how a coordinator wants to use him. He’s got enough agility to stuff the run, and can also get to the passer in the right situation. In this sense, he could be a stable, “do it all” type tackle that could be drafted with the high hopes of learning from Ngata and perhaps being his replacement after ideally a handful of productive years. He’s also a Detroiter, which could make this a slam-dunk homecoming in the mold of Jason Jones.

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