Reasonable expectations for Philadelphia Eagles rookie Jordan Davis

What should Philadelphia Eagles fans expect from Jordan Davis during his rookie season?

After months of speculation over what the Philadelphia Eagles‘ plans might be for the 2022 NFL Draft’s first round, the answer was one we should have theorized earlier. We asked if the Birds might take another wide receiver or a linebacker for the first time since 1979. They settled on the best interior defensive lineman available. Again, why did we ever allow ourselves to believe that they’d do something else?

In 2021, Jordan Davis finished his NCAA career by earning a First-Team All-SEC nod, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Outland Trophy, and a Unanimous All-American designation before helping the Georgia Bulldogs hoist the College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy. He figures to be very good at the professional level for a long time.

If everything goes according to plan, the Eagles won’t have to ask for too much from the rookie and do so too early. He’s a part of a defensive tackle rotation that features two accomplished veterans, Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave. Philly’s third-round draft choice in 2021, Milton Williams, figures to be a big part of the defensive game plan as well.

Birds fans should expect to see a lot of Number 90 during the coming 18-week, 17-game regular season though. We’re talking about a six-foot-six, 336-pound game-wrecker that can run the 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds. How do you ignore someone like that?

It’s impossible to determine how Jonathan Gannon will deploy the rookie in his new-look defense or gauge what types of statistical results that will produce. That won’t stop us from trying though.

We’ve pieced together a preliminary 53-man roster. We’ve looked at the Eagles schedule for what feels like the 300th time and tossed ideas back and forth about matchups. Here are some reasonable expectations for year one.