This offseason was a good one for free agent contracts when it comes to tight ends, as a number of players signed multi-year deals with new teams, but one tight end stuck with his old team on a one-year deal and now Fred Davis is hoping to prove to the NFL he is worth a long-term look.
According to Pro Football Talk, Davis has been working hard to get fully healthy after dealing with a serious Achilles injury and he is hoping to put in a good season and then go for a long-term contract as he pushes for a third time in negotiations. Davis had issues the previous season after being suspended four games for violating the substance abuse policy and now as he is coming back from injury he is hoping to put up solid numbers while working with Robert Griffin III in the offense.
Davis is on a one-year, $2.5 million contract after dealing with the injury and next offseason he is hoping to sign a deal more in tune with what players like Jared Cook, Martellus Bennett and Delanie Walker signed. Bennett went to the Bears after a breakout year with the Giants, who signed Brandon Myers to replace him after looking at Davis. He was tagged in 2011 by the Redskins and now he has to battle with Logan Paulsen and new rookie Jordan Reed on the depth chart.
"I feel like I've got to prove myself again," Davis said, via Nathan Fenno of the Washington Times. "Everything I've done before doesn't matter."
Davis was one of the most consistent players on the team before dealing with his suspension and things got derailed more when he tore the Achilles in October against the Giants. Davis wants to be an important weapon in an offense that features Griffin and rookie sensation Alfred Morris and he hopes that will get him a deal more in line with Cook and Walker. Bennett signed a four year deal worth $20 million, while Cook got five years and over $35 million.
