Ron Rivera/Martin Mayhew Presser: Jamin Davis was the top-rated defensive player on our board

Ron Rivera mentioned some interesting things. Most importantly being the fit Davis presents. The coaches are very excited because they already have a plan set in place to deploy Davis. He also provides value with the ability to play all three starting LB roles.

Rivera on Davis: pic.twitter.com/QtBN5pygLw

— Matt Valdovinos (@MVScouting) April 30, 2021

Ron Rivera on why Jamin Davis was the right fit for Washington: "Precisely that. Fit. ... He plays the game at the right tempo."

He says he fits the culture and can play all three linebacker positions. "He's what you look for in a football player," he said.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) April 30, 2021

GM Martin Mayhew & HC Ron Rivera talking about @WashingtonNFL
1st-round LB Jamin Davis:

Rivera said he was top-drafted defensive player on their draft board.

Mayhew: "Grade matched up with the need. ...He checks a whole bunch of boxes for us. ...Great football character guy."

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) April 30, 2021

.@RiverboatRonHC on Jamin Davis:

"He sticks out on tape"

Rivera says he likes that Davis is/was a 'military brat' - Born in Hawaii.

"His football acumen was outstanding.'

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) April 30, 2021

Martin Mayhew said when Jamin Davis' name first came up during draft meetings, he hadn't done much work on him but the scouts were really pressing for him. Once he started to dig in, Davis popped on film.

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) April 30, 2021

Rivera pushed back against the idea that Jamin Davis rose recently up draft boards. Said not a fast riser just cause some in the media don't know who he is.

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 30, 2021

When taking “project” type players, there’s always a risk. Yes the upside is jaw dropping, but the player has to actually develop properly. Not a guaranteed task.

However Davis landed in the perfect spot. 3 former NFL LBs on the coaching staff and a dominant defense around him. pic.twitter.com/3kecuCzCi1

— Matt Valdovinos (@MVScouting) April 30, 2021

"He can play all of our LB positions. He's what you look for in a football player."

Head Coach Ron Rivera discusses the addition of @jamindavis25! pic.twitter.com/cbmNbsh98q

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) April 30, 2021

Rivera on @jamindavis25: "This guy had the most position flex of any of them, and that's important to me because I believe a guy that can play all your LB positions can learn quickly, will understand quickly and will help others around him."

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 30, 2021

Ron Rivera says the team has a good feeling about where it wants LB Jamin Davis to start off, but it will also explore his position flexibility, which was one of the biggest reasons he was their top defensive prospect on the board.

— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) April 30, 2021

Ron speaks on Davis’ ability to diagnose run fits: pic.twitter.com/M2CFlJsJ2z

— Matt Valdovinos (@MVScouting) April 30, 2021

Ron Rivera on not moving up to take a QB: "We just felt looking at where we are now, with what we're doing, to be patient. We felt strongly about it. This isn't just a piece. We have a chance to put PIECES together."

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 30, 2021

Ron Rivera said Washington didn't trade up for a quarterback because the team felt it was more important to be patient and build a team for a quarterback first.

"We felt strongly about [being patient]. This isn't just [about] a piece. We have a chance to put pieces together."

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) April 30, 2021

GM Martin Mayhew: "We didn't think seriously about making any move" into the low teens for a QB.

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) April 30, 2021

Washington GM Martin Mayhew: "Really, up until our pick it went pretty much the way we thought it would go. We got a few calls, but we didn't think seriously about making any move. We felt very comfortable there."

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 30, 2021

Mayhew: "We want to build this team through the draft." #WashingtonFootball

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) April 30, 2021

Ron Rivera said Jamin Davis was the top-rated defender on their board.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 30, 2021

The first thing you notice with Davis is the jaw dropping physical tools. He has the size and arm length to fight through traffic and vacuum up tackles, and the athletic ability and fluidity to man-up against dangerous receiving threats

Raw, but still developing. pic.twitter.com/5zhP4c3HxC

— Matt Valdovinos (@MVScouting) April 30, 2021

Rivera said Davis hasn't even come close to his ceiling. With some development, he believes that linebacker could become even better.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) April 30, 2021

Rivera said Davis has a good knack for slipping blocks and striking. There are some things he still needs to work on, but he progressed throughout the season, which Rivera liked and anticipates that will happen in Year 1 with Washington.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) April 30, 2021

Ron Rivera highlighted Jamin Davis' growth at Kentucky: "Watch how he takes his angle on his drop ... That's a very natural football play right there." https://t.co/lryFLyBedV

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) April 30, 2021

Ron Rivera also thought very highly of this play pic.twitter.com/qKzDiTLBLd

— Matt Valdovinos (@MVScouting) April 30, 2021

Rivera just mentioned this Jamin Davis pick-6 stood out. Starts at the 20-second mark. pic.twitter.com/iTrW1T7fRA

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 30, 2021

GM Martin Mayhew said there's some "very talented" QBs left on the draft board. He said the team won't reach, that they'll follow the board, but he likes some of the prospects, presumably Davis Mills, Kellen Mond and Kyle Trask.

— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) April 30, 2021

Rivera then goes on to say that Davis was their highest rated defensive player. They valued him very highly.

Sounds like what pushed him over was his ability to play a more traditional linebacker role. Washington wants to “stack” their linebackers behind the DL, Davis fits that. pic.twitter.com/MWr7FEPSGa

— Matt Valdovinos (@MVScouting) April 30, 2021

Rivera says Jamin Davis plays as a 'stack linebacker' which is what they need.

Martin Mayhew says all the talk about OL did not come from them.

— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) April 30, 2021

Martin Mayhew: "There's a lotta talk before the draft about a lotta things."

Yup

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) April 30, 2021

Rivera said Davis plays fast, from start to finish. When the offense gets to the LOS, he's ready to go. Rivera called Davis a "tempo-setter" and that's is exactly what he is looking for.

— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) April 30, 2021

Rivera said he liked that when talking to Davis, "the conversation wasn't about him, him, him... that struck me positive. His football acumen was outstanding." Says Davis really understands fits; that was an issue for a lot of last season. About leverage/understanding of D etc

— John Keim (@john_keim) April 30, 2021