Falcons bring in ex-Saints DT Tyeler Davison on deal

The Atlanta Falcons have convinced a former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle to join the good guys. The team has signed DT Tyeler Davison to a contract, giving them options at a position with some question marks.

Davison played for the Saints for four seasons after being drafted out of Fresno St. in the fifth round of the NFL draft. Since then, he’s been a valued member of the Saints’ admittedly stout defensive front.

He had two sacks, 23 tackles and a forced fumble in 2018, and should contribute right away to a Falcons interior defensive line that could use more depth. He started at nose tackle next to Sheldon Rankins last season and might just do the same in Atlanta next to Grady Jarrett.

It’s always nice to steal away a good player from the arch rival, and a four-defensive tackle rotation of Grady Jarrett, Jack Crawford, Deadrin Senat and Davison should give you confidence this group will be dependable in 2019.

I’ll let our friends over at Canal Street Chronicles fill us in on how Davison played for them in 2018.

A 5th round pick in the 2015 draft, Tyeler Davison remains one of the team’s best run defenders. The 6’2, 309-lb Davison provides a powerful punch against the run, proving to be a handful against even multiple blockers while getting a good push into the backfield and stonewalling inside runs. He isn’t a well-rounded pass rusher, although he did have a career high 2 sacks this year, but Davison is tenacious and comes straight ahead with tremendous strength. He is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but the Saints hope to re-sign him as a key rotational player.

Getting some grit in the trenches and helping out the porous Falcons run defense had to be a priority this offseason, so Davison will make a most welcomed presence up front.

Atlanta needed this type of talent in the rotation, and it makes a rival weaker. There aren’t a lot of downsides to this move, though it might make drafting a defensive tackle with the first pick less of a priority in the draft. That’s not a bad thing, considering the needs the Falcons need to address this offseason.

We welcome Davison to Atlanta, and are excited to see what he’s going to bring to the table. Defensive tackle looks much better for the Falcons with him in the fold.