Jordan Davis
Getty
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis delivered strong messages to reporters after signing his contract extension.
The Philadelphia Eagles have yet to make a really big splash in NFL free agency. But before the legal tampering period began, they ensured one of their own would remain with the team for a long time — defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Saturday the Eagles and Davis agreed to a 3-year, $78 million contract extension. The deal will include $65 million guaranteed.
Before the contract, Davis was on track to become an unrestricted free agent next year.
The deal is expected to keep Davis with the Eagles through the rest of the decade. But that doesn’t mean the defensive tackle is done getting better.
“I have so much room to improve; have so much growth as a player,” Davis told reporters Wednesday. “I just want to be great by the time it’s done. When it’s all over and done with. I want to be able to lead. I want to be able to leave my legacy.”
Jordan Davis ‘Excited for More’
Davis had a lot of great things to say in his Wednesday press conference that lasted almost 19 minutes. But there were two major takeaways.
The first of which was how focused the defensive tackle is to achieve more — both individually and as a team. The 26-year-old has received a lot of inspiration to be better each and every day from defensive line franchise legends Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham.
“When I first got here, I was talking with Brandon Graham and I remember he said to me, ‘You come in here and you work hard and you show that you care and work to improve, this city will love you,” Davis said. “That is something that stuck with me, that resonated with me.
Davis also shared a message Cox delivered to him already about his new contract.
“Fletch (Cox) told me that they are keeping you for not what you’ve done, but for what you can do, what you are expected to do,” Davis said, via NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro.
Davis Planning to Lead by Example
The second big takeaway from Davis’s Wednesday press conference was how much the Eagles made the right choice with his contract commitment.
In the presser, Davis shared what it means to play for “blue collared” Philadelphia fans. He also said he doesn’t want to just be great like Cox and Graham but lead like them too.
“My idea of leadership is doing the right thing, doing right by people, putting in the effort,” said Davis.
That’s the best way the defensive tackle can truly leave a lasting legacy. Cox and Graham won Super Bowls. But they also handed the torch to the next generation to try and win more.
The Eagles drafted Davis at No. 13 overall in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has played and started every game since the beginning of the 2023 regular season.
Last season, he set new career highs across the board. Davis finished the campaign with 72 combined tackles, including nine tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, six pass defenses and 4.5 sacks.