Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle named undrafted free agent rookie to watch this summer
Defensive tackle Devonta Davis was named the Indianapolis Colts' undrafted rookie to watch this summer by Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports.
"Davis thrives dispatching blockers and sticking running backs close to the line of scrimmage," wrote Trapasso. "At over 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds with arms nearly 33 inches, he has the measurables to stand out in camp and in the preseason as an active run-plugger."
After four seasons at Jackson State, Davis transferred and played at Florida Atlantic this past season. As Trapasso noted, Davis' pass rush production won't leap off the page, which contributed to him going undrafted. In 2024, he tallied just 13 pressures and had a career high of 20 during the 2022 season.
However, Davis' greatest impact came against the run. Out of 200-plus defensive tackles, Davis ranked 53rd in PFF's run defense grade and 92nd in run-stop rate.
Where Davis would fit within this Colts' defense is as a rotational run defender, seeing the field on early downs when Grover Stewart isn't on the field.
"What a team would get in a player like me is a player that is always willing to learn new things and player that's always trying to get better no matter what it is," Davis said in an interview with NFL Draft Diamonds.
We know that at the top of the Colts' defensive tackle depth chart are DeForest Buckner and Stewart, but how the rotation behind them shakes out remains to be seen.
GM Chris Ballard did add Neville Gallimore in free agency and then drafted Tim Smith, along with claiming Eric Johnson on waivers recently. Those three will join Adetomiwa Adebawore and compete for playing time and the final three or so roster spots.
Davis is at a position group where there are some unknowns around the depth, and that is a necessary part of the equation when it comes to any UDFA making a roster push. However, like any UDFA, not that it can't be done, we saw Dalton Tucker make the Colts' 53-man roster last season, but it's always an uphill battle.
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