Saints Player Rankings: Leadership and prowess propel Demario Davis to No. 6

Arguably the best free-agent signing of the decade, Saints’ veteran linebacker Demario Davis rightfully lands at No. 6 on our player rankings.

Notice how the Saints locker room didn’t miss a beat when Brees shockingly went down with an injury in Week 2 of the 2019 NFL season?

Demario Davis is largely to thank for that; undeniably, he was the glue that held a fractured team together when Brees recently made controversial comments regarding kneeling during the anthem as well.

One of the quietest free agency signings in recent history, criminally underrated LB Demario Davis continues to prove why he deserves a seat at the All-Pro table. The unrelenting tale of woes that constitutes the Saints’ defense was exponentially upgraded with Davis’ veteran presence, both on and off the field.

As Davis aptly put it, the hunt has three parts. “He plays extremely hard, it’s extremely important to him. He studies, he’s well-versed in what we’re doing in the game plan,” Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen on Davis’ prowl.

Next? The kill – “look him in the eyes and take his soul.” One could easily view 111 tackles, 9 QB hits, 4 sacks, 12 passes defended and an interception to cap off Davis’ 2019 season as doing just that.

While we might view the 2019 season as yet another source of Saints’ heartbreak (with Minnesota again, at that), arguably, Davis was a cornerstone in ensuring the team ate nonetheless throughout that season.

A season where future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees went down against the most recent Saints rival, the Los Angeles Rams, for five games due to injury.

There’s a reason Demario Davis is a captain for the hungry team – his presence is simply unparalleled. Those enticed at the prospect of C.J. Gardner-Johnson blossoming under the mentorship of Malcolm Jenkins should see just as much, if not more value in Davis’ consistent leadership of an often flailing Saints defense.

Whatever level rookie LB Zack Baun eventually ascends to will undeniably be in part credited to the molding and teachings of Demario Davis – a prospect Saints fans have been salivating over since the 2020 NFL Draft.

At the end of the day, when needed the most, Demario Davis stepped up and filled the void of a 13-years old Saints identity formulated by Drew Brees. The team never even blinked – thanks to Davis.

He continues to soar and defy expectations at 32-years old, and it’s safe to say he isn’t even close to reaching his ceiling in the Saints secondary. Davis’ 2020 season may very well solidify his HOF status for years to come.