The Washington Commanders have decline the fifth-year contract option for linebacker Jamin Davis, according to a report from WaPo’s Nicki Jhabvala.
Jhabvala cites ‘two people with knowledge of the decision,’ which sees Washington decline to guarantee Davis a projected $14.483 million in 2025 and putting their 2021 first-round draft pick into a true contract year.
Davis, 25, was selected 19th overall in Ron Rivera’s second year at the helm, and the team hoped the Kentucky product’s traits would allow him to develop into the middle linebacker they had been searching for for years.
Instead, Davis developed slowly, and has notched 269 tackles (20 for loss), seven sacks, one interception, four forced fumbles, six passes defensed, and 10 QB hits in 45 of 51 possible games (36 starts), and he missed the final four games of last season with a shoulder injury.
Davis also has some off-field baggage: a March 2022 charge of reckless driving in Virginia that got him 180 days suspended sentence, and now his naming in a wrongful death lawsuit for the Dec. 2021 car crash that killed Deshazor Everett’s girlfriend, Olivia Peters.
His fourth year will likely see him start alongside free agent additions Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu on the second level, and the Commanders also added Anthony Pittman, and Mychal Walker in a complete overhaul of their linebacker corps.