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Top five NFL draft landing spots for Clemson defensive tackle Tyler Davis
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- Top five NFL draft landing spots for Clemson defensive tackle Tyler Davis
CLEMSON — Tyler Davis is one of two Clemson football defensive tackles entering the NFL Draft after spending five seasons with the Tigers.
The Florida native is Clemson's first defensive player to be a four-time All-ACC selection, earning first-team honors from 2021 through 2023. In 56 career games (52 starts), he logged 144 tackles (29.5 for loss), 16 sacks and three pass deflections.
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At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound Davis tied for second among defensive tackles in the bench press with 29 reps. He uses his strength to overcome offensive linemen.
Here are the top five destinations for one of the Tigers' all-time best defensive tackle:
Tyler Davis NFL draft projection 1: San Francisco 49ers
The reigning NFC champion has one of the best rosters in the NFL, but its defense struggled against the run in the final four games last season. The unit allowed more than 100 rushing yards in each game, including giving up nearly 150 per game in the postseason.
San Francisco signed defensive tackle Jordan Elliot to a two-year deal and traded for defensive tackle Maliek Collins this offseason to replace Arik Armstead and potentially start alongside 31-year-old Javon Hargrave . Still, it needs someone like Davis to ease its rush-defense woes.
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Tyler Davis NFL draft projection 2: New Orleans Saints
The Saints allowed 4.4 yards per carry, which tied for 23rd in the NFL, and 119.9 rushing yards a game last season. They drafted former Clemson defensive tackle Bryan Bresee and signed Khalen Saunders last year but need to strengthen their interior with emerging running-back talent in their division ( Atlanta 's Bijan Robinson , Tampa Bay's Rachaad White ).
New Orleans drafting Davis on Day 2 or 3 would reunite him with Bresee and potentially improve its rush defense.
Tyler Davis NFL draft projection 3: Los Angeles Chargers
It is a new era for the Chargers with the hiring of Jim Harbaugh as coach, and he will have to renovate their roster. At defensive tackle, they released veteran Sebastian Joseph-Day last season and lost Austin Johnson in free agency. They signed only one defensive tackle in the offseason, Ponna Ford, on a one-year deal.
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Los Angeles clearly needs to add defensive-tackle depth to its roster and may add multiple players from that position in the draft to rebuild its pass and rush defense.
MORE: 2024 NFL mock draft: Projecting where all 10 Clemson Tigers prospects will land
Tyler Davis NFL draft projection 4: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins lost defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis in free agency and signed seven defensive tackles at bargain prices in hopes of replacing both players' productions.
With no clear starters at defensive tackle, look for Miami to use one of their middle- or late-round picks on a player like Davis to strengthen the position group nd add youth in the room.
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Tyler Davis NFL draft projection 5: Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks struggled against the run last season, allowing the second-most rushing yards and tying for first in the most 20+ run plays allowed in the league. They re-signed Leonard Williams this offseason to return their top three interior defensive linemen, but they need more help to handle their division foes as all three teams ranked in the top 11 in rushing yards last season.
Seattle drafting Davis can add a rotational interior lineman who can develop under first-year coach Mike Macdonald.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Tyler Davis NFL draft projections: Best landing spots for Clemson DT
