Most NFL players don’t hit their prime at 30 years old. Demario Davis is not most NFL players. That’s why the New Orleans Saints linebacker finds himself on ESPN’s rankings of the top-10 off-ball linebackers in the game yet again at age 35. ESPN’s list is sourced from “nearly 80” voters around the NFL, including everyone from general managers to coaches and scouts.
Davis was a first team All-Pro player in 2019, a year after coming to New Orleans. It was the first All-Pro team of his career, and he’s been a second team All Pro every year after that. His streak sits at five consecutive All-Pro seasons. This is all after the age of 30.
Davis dropped from No. 5 to 8 on the list this year, but he remains praised for his ability to rush the passer. It’s this part of his game that separates him from his peers of position and age.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler cited an AFC assistant coach who praised Davis’ “inline pass-rush ability.” That same coach added, “you probably want him out of coverage on third downs at this stage, but he’s better than those other guys at getting pressure,”
Davis is human, so he may not be the same athlete in coverage, but his aggression moving forward is a new facet of his game that has greatly benefitted the Saints defense. Davis registered a career-high 6.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons. Interestingly, he has actually blitzed less frequently in that time frame, but he’s been more effective. When the Saints send him after the quarterback he finds ways to get home.
