Former Commanders' first-round pick released again

The Washington Commanders selected linebacker Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pick in last week's 2026 NFL Draft. Styles was the first linebacker Washington selected in the first round since 2021. Do you happen to remember who that linebacker was? If you said Jamin Davis, you'd be correct.

Davis lasted only three-plus seasons with the Commanders before he was released on October 22, 2024.

Since then, Davis has spent time with four different organizations, most recently with the Las Vegas Raiders, who released him on Thursday. Davis, 27, initially signed with the Raiders' practice squad in October, before he was promoted to the active roster in November. After the season, he agreed to a reserve/future contract with Las Vegas.

Considered by many to be a reach in the 2021 NFL Draft, former head coach/head of football operations Ron Rivera selected Davis in part because he was a phenomenal athlete and partly because Davis' family had a military background, like Rivera's.

"I'm very partial to guys like that because I played with a lot of guys who have that family background," Rivera said in 2021, via Kyle Stackpole. "He's a solid young man who's very bright and very intelligent."

Rivera chose Davis at No. 19 overall, when other highly-rated players at positions of need, such as Virginia Tech offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, were on the board. Washington initially hoped Davis could handle mike linebacker responsibilities, but quickly learned he was better suited to play outside. When new GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn took over in 2024, they attempted to move Davis to edge rusher before releasing him after five games.