Patriots: 3 linebackers New England can target in this draft class
By Mike Luciano
Patriots Day 2 Linebacker Target: Jamin Davis, Kentucky
Davis might have had the most unstoppable rise of any prospect in this class, as he went from the fringes of Day 3 to an almost universal Day 2 prospect. After blowing scouts away at his pro day, Davis is out to prove that his 102 tackles and three interceptions last season were anything but a fluke.
Davis’ athletic ability and ferocious tackling will get him drafted somewhere on Day 2, and he has the potential to start right away considering how productive he was in the SEC. Despite his many positive traits, he has some wrinkles that Belichick will need to iron out before he is officially ready for primetime.
How would Jamin Davis help the Patriots?
Davis has just one season of starting experience, and that lack of game time became painfully obvious when more complex offenses were able to exploit his questionable decision-making in terms of reading plays. Once Belichick gets him to tighten up that aspect of his game, he can release this pitbull on the NFL.
Not only does Belichick’s work with Jerod Mayo establish him as a premier instructor for young linebackers, but Mayo himself will be his de facto defensive coordinator. If there is any system in which he could be properly set up for success, it’s that of New England.