The New York Giants selected Arizona State defensive lineman DJ Davidson with the 147th overall pick in the fifth round of this year’s NFL draft.
Davidson was in good hands out in Tempe with former Giants captain Antonio Pierce as his defensive coordinator and former NFL player and head coach Herm Edwards as the head coach.
Edwards recently appeared on the Giants Huddle podcast and talked a bit about Davidson, a player he coached for four years at the collegiate level.
“His maturity, naturally, and his ability to learn the position and become a pretty good technician,” Edwards said when asked what impressed him most about Davidson.
Edwards also called Davidson “light on his feet” and said he can “shed blocks and make plays” and be a “disrupter.”
Davidson was a top run defender and the Giants will need players who can stop the run as well as get to the passer.
“He has great balance, not on the ground a lot,” said Edwards.
Edwards also believes Davidson will likely warrant double teams at times, which would free up others to make plays.
“If he can get into one-on-one situations, he can take advantage,” said Edwards, who also said the the NFL-style system he runs gives his players an edge heading into the league.
Davidson will be trying to break into a rotation that consists of Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, Justin Ellis, Jalyn Holmes and others. He is coming in at 25 years old and Edwards said he won’t be in awe heading into the next level.
Edwards also noted that Davidson is a silent guy who leads by example.
“When he talks, though, people listen,” said Edwards when asked about players who say little and let their playing do the talking. “Those are the scary guys.”
