Pair of Georgia rookies earn spots on Defensive All-Rookie team
Kevin Patra at NFL.com released an All-Rookie defensive team this week to go along with his coworker David Carr’s offensive squad. While it came somewhat as a surprise to not find George Pickens on the Offensive All-Rookie Team, it wasn’t one at all to find a few former Georgia Bulldogs on the Defensive All-Rookie Team considering how strong the unit was in Athens in 2021.
Jordan Davis – Philadelphia Eagles
Patra writes: Davis’ importance to the Eagles’ defense was evident in games he missed, prompting Philly to bring in veterans to plug the gap. The 6-foot-6, 336-pound behemoth eats up blockers, giving Eagles linebackers clear lanes to the football. In limited regular-season snaps due to injury, Davis still gobbled up nine stops and generated eight QB pressures, per PFF. A rotational player in his first year in Philly, Davis owns the size and upside to be a game-wrecker in the middle of the Eagles’ defense if he stays healthy.
Jordan Davis was banged up this season for the Eagles, but when he was on the field, he made a huge impact. Like at Georgia, the stat sheet might not show it, but what the mammoth does is open things up for everyone else on the defense. That’s part of the reason why the Eagles earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a bye in the Playoffs. Davis and company are back in action on Saturday as they take on the New York Giants at 8:15 p.m. ET on FOX.
Quay Walker – Green Bay Packers
Patra writes: Like most rookies, Walker experienced ups and downs in Year 1. But when things were clicking, whoa boy, he’s a game-changer in the middle of the Packers’ defense — and he was a big reason for Green Bay’s late-season surge. Walker is phenomenal in coverage; his range and speed are undeniable. While sometimes wonky in diagnosing, when Walker sniffs things out correctly, he brings the hammer, generating 52 stops — tops in his class, per NGS. Walker also led all rookie linebackers with 121 tackles, 11 QB pressures and a 58.8 completion percentage allowed in coverage. Getting ejected from Week 18’s season-ending loss to Detroit for pushing a trainer was a boneheaded move — and Walker’s second inexplicable ejection of the year — but when his head is on straight, the linebacker is an unquestionable talent.
While the stats didn’t show the impact of Davis, they certainly did for Quay Walker. Like Davis, Walker was one of the five first round selections off of Georgia’s 2021 defense. He was effective in Athens and continued to be in Green Bay. It took him a little bit of time to get settled in, but by midseason, Walker was putting up double-digit tackles with a season-high 13 against the Washington Commanders. That came after he had a forced fumble earlier in the year against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and before forcing one the next week too against the Buffalo Bills. Walker had double-digit tackles in back to back weeks later in the season against the Tennessee Titans (12) and the Philadelphia Eagles (11). Walker had his season come to a close in the final game of the regular season with a loss to the Detroit Lions that kept the Packers out of the Playoffs.
