UFL star could be a DL option for Bears |
When you look at the current state of the Chicago Bears roster, a few areas could still use some addressing. Everyone will immediately focus on the offensive line, and rightfully so, but that side of the football has made significant strides and will only continue to get better. However, the defensive line is a different story, in particular the pass rush, as the Bears still need to address more pass-rushing help.
Adding Montez Sweat was a massive upgrade for this defense, but unless he is given someone to take the pressure off him this season, the same sort of production may not happen. Bringing back Yannick Ngakoue has been floated around, but given his season-ending injury, do the Bears really want to risk him not being 100%? Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings, and Zacch Pickens are not only young talents that this team has drafted in recent seasons, but all of them should see an increase in playing time. Even at that point, none of them are considered a true pass-rushing threat, which doesn't bode well. Knowing what this team needs and the lack of players remaining that can provide the production this team needs,, where could this help come from?? Allow me to introduce you to Carlos Davis, who could be one of the most sought-after under-the-radar pickups in the near future. For those unfamiliar with Davis, he was a former seventh-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers before landing in Atlanta. The former Nebraska Cornhusker was always known as an athletic freak, as he weighed 313 pounds and was clocked at 4.82 during his 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL combine. That type of speed for an interior defensive lineman is unheard of and is a big reason he managed to get taken, even if it was in the seventh round. However, after limited playing time and next to no production, Davis was left searching for a job and has now latched on with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL. This is why this league was created. It was created to give players another chance to make it back to the NFL even if their career seemed all but over. When you look at the UFL and go back to the USFL, the Stallions have been the class of the league. They are currently sitting at 6-0 this season and have won the first two League titles. There is a reason players like Brandon Aubrey (Dallas) and Alex McGough (Green Bay) have found jobs in the NFL, and that falls on Skip Holtz and the rest of his staff. Although he has limited experience, Davis has NFL experience, and should he continue playing at the level he has this spring, he could very easily find himself back in this league at a cheap price, which would fit the Bears well. Granted, most UFL players aren't at the talent level of those in the NFL, but with six sacks in six games, Davis has proven to be able to get after the QB from an interior line spot, which the Bears would love to have. You started to see some of his potential during his final year at Nebraska when he had four sacks that season after having just five in his first three years combined. Then you throw in his excellent combine workout, where he displayed his athleticism and plenty of scouts felt he could become the steal of the draft. That wasn't the case, as he faced many challenges along the way, including a lack of run-stopping ability and a limited set of pass-rushing techniques. Davis was always accustomed to a 4-3 scheme, so getting drafted by the Steelers was a bit of a shock, as they played a 3-4 defensive scheme. The fit was never a good fit, which is why he struggled to see consistent time on the field. Going to the Stallions put him back in a 4-3 scheme, which is also the same system that Matt Eberflus runs for his defense. Putting him back in a familiar defensive scheme has allowed Davis to flourish beyond belief, as he can now focus on attacking gaps instead of 1v1 matchups. Knowing the Bears do many of the same things the Stallions do defensively, bringing him in would be a good fit for both sides as he could finally unlock his full potential as a player. Knowing the state of the UFL and how new Spring football is, the talent pool in that league is often overlooked even though more and more players are finding NFL gigs. Davis could be the next UFL player to make it to the league and could be one of those sneaky signings that is not only cost-saving but could turn out to be a home run acquisition should he be given a fair shot.
