Drafted by Philadelphia in 2022, Jordan Davis is the longest-tenured Eagle on the defensive line at only the age of 26.
His Pro Bowl-level play for the team earned the former Georgia Bulldog a three-year contract extension this offseason. With that power comes great responsibility.
"I would say it's probably the standard that I've raised for myself," Davis said when questioned about what has changed for him personally since signing the extension.
"Every year we're looking forward to finding a new thing to get better at, whether that's technique, film watching, just understanding the game on a different level."
Davis spent the offseason training to get as strong as he could entering Organized Team Activities in May, the first time the defensive line was able to practice as a unit since the end of last season. The individual workouts now turn into working together as a team.
"It's exciting to go out there and work with the guys," Davis said. "We all lean on each other in those times and moments because it's going to be challenging. You're going to have challenging moments in the season. When we go out there and we attack the box drills and we do it as a unit, we do it as a team, because the offense is doing their conditioning as well. It kind of brings that bonding that we all talk about, how we need that bonding by trial, trial by fire."
This is the fourth NFL offseason that Davis will have Jalen Carter by his side, but the two have been playing together for far longer. The two formed a dominant interior defensive line at the University of Georgia, being part of Georgia's College Football Playoff National Championship in 2021. After drafting Davis in the first round in 2022, the Eagles used a 2023 first-round pick on his other half, Carter.
While it's easy to focus on the two big men upfront, Davis sees the bigger picture.
"I think we all know the type of player that Jalen Carter is, the caliber player that he is, the potential that he has," Davis said. "We all have to go out there. We all have to work. We have to go out there and prove it.
"And I think that if everybody buys into that mentality, then we can go out there and be our best. It's not about just him. I think more so about the D-line. We're more focused on the collective unit, if we're all getting better. We know Jalen is going to add to the room. He's been doing it for years.
"He's going to ball. So, we just have to make sure that we all do our part."
Davis credits Defensive Line Coach/Senior Defensive Assistant/Associate Head Coach Clint Hurtt for his and his teammates' mentality going into Training Camp.
"He has a high standard for us, he has a high standard for the D-line, he has a high standard for the unit... which also translates for the unit having a high standard for ourselves," Davis said.
Every player has their part in this defensive tackle lineup. According to Davis, the addition of rookie Uar Bernard, who never played organized American football before the NFL, is pushing players to be their best.
"I think that's the beautiful thing about having Uar with us," Davis said. "Having him, it makes you want to do your reps perfectly so you can set a good example. But we all are just trying to perfect ourselves. And knowing that we're never going to be perfect, but if we keep climbing, if we keep reaching for that goal, then who knows the skies that we can reach the limit."
It all goes back to the collective unit, every player being the best they can be to take this defensive line further. Even with the loss of multiple defensive players this offseason, they can only control what is in front of them and adapt.
"That's the thing about football," Davis said. "You're always going to have wins or losses. You're always going to lose a couple of players. You're always going to gain a couple of players. But the teams who do it well, they spend that time, during this time right now, connecting with their teammates, getting them up to speed.
"In terms of the new players, it feels like they've been here for the longest time. So, I think that's the beautiful thing about the culture that we have here, the things that we can try to cultivate on this side of the ball."
Trial by fire does tend to create string bonds.
"So, you know, just keep working. The fastest way to get connected with somebody is to work with them." - Written by Caroline Connor
