Carl Davis Bio
Carl Davis, born March 2, 1992, is an American professional football defensive tackle who has spent a decade moving between NFL rosters after a promising college career at the University of Iowa. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and listed around 332 pounds during his playing days, Davis brought a tall, powerful frame to the interior defensive line. He was selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens and went on to play for several franchises across the league. His journeyman career reflects both the resilience required to remain in professional football and the challenges of establishing a long-term starting role.
Early Life and Background
Carl Davis was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in the metropolitan area, eventually attending Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights, Michigan. At Stevenson, he developed into one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the state, earning first-team All-State honors from the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, and The Macomb Daily. As a junior, he collected 47 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hurries, and three quarterback sacks, helping his prep team post a 10–2 record. He followed that with a senior season that included 58 tackles, six sacks, two blocked field goals, one interception, and one touchdown, leading his team to a 13–1 mark and a trip to the state championship game at Ford Field.
Beyond football, Davis lettered in basketball and track and field, which helped him build the athleticism and coordination that would later define his defensive line play. His mother, Ovella Davis, is a pastor in Detroit, and the values of his upbringing shaped his approach to the sport and to his community. The combination of size, family support, and multi-sport development laid the groundwork for his eventual recruitment to a Big Ten program.
Path to Professional Football
Davis joined the Iowa Hawkeyes as part of the 2010 recruiting class and was redshirted during his true freshman season to preserve a year of eligibility. He gradually worked his way up the depth chart, appearing in six games as a redshirt freshman in 2011 with two tackles and playing in 11 games as a sophomore in 2012, when he recorded eight tackles. By his junior season in 2013, he had become a full-time starter, starting all 13 games and finishing the year with 42 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
He entered his senior season in 2014 as a starter for the second consecutive year, earning second-team All-Big Ten recognition in both 2013 and 2014. On November 10, 2014, Davis accepted an invitation to play in the 2015 Senior Bowl as part of the North team. He impressed during practice week and was voted the Reese’s Senior Bowl Practice Player of the Week by a panel of NFL scouts. He also attended the NFL Combine and Iowa’s pro day, where he was projected as a second-round pick.
Carl Davis Career
Baltimore Ravens (2015–2017)
The Baltimore Ravens selected Davis in the third round with the 90th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft after he unexpectedly fell out of the earlier rounds. On May 8, 2015, the Ravens signed him to a four-year, $2.95 million contract that included a signing bonus of $625,084. He competed throughout training camp for the starting nose tackle position left vacant by the departure of Haloti Ngata and was named the backup to Brandon Williams to begin the regular season.
Davis made his professional debut in the Ravens’ season-opener against the Denver Broncos, recording three combined tackles and a pass deflection. He earned his first career start at defensive tackle on September 27, 2015, and went on to play in 13 games during his rookie season, producing 11 tackles and two passes defended. In 2016, an ankle injury suffered in the preseason finale landed him on injured reserve, forcing him to miss the entire year. He returned in 2017 but saw limited action due to a hamstring injury, and on September 1, 2018, he was waived by the Ravens.
Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts (2018–2019)
On September 2, 2018, Davis was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns. He appeared minimally for the Browns that season, registering just one assisted tackle. The Browns re-signed him to a one-year, $2 million contract on March 12, 2019, but released him on August 31 of that year.
On October 14, 2019, Davis was signed by the Indianapolis Colts. He remained with the team only briefly before being released on November 4, 2019.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2019–2020)
Davis signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 25, 2019, beginning a stretch with the franchise that stretched into the 2020 season. On February 4, 2020, he was suspended the first four games of the 2020 season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. He was re-signed in April, released in May, and signed again in August before being reinstated from suspension in October. After brief stints on the active roster and practice squad, Davis was signed off the Jaguars’ practice squad by another team in mid-October 2020.
New England Patriots (2020–2022)
On October 14, 2020, Davis was signed by the New England Patriots off the Jaguars’ practice squad. He was placed on injured reserve on November 28, 2020, with a concussion and designated to return in mid-December, though he was not activated before the regular season ended. Davis signed a contract extension with the Patriots on March 15, 2021, and re-signed with the team on April 27, 2022. He was released on August 27, 2023.
Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Commanders (2023–Present)
On September 20, 2023, Davis signed with the Seattle Seahawks practice squad and was waived on October 31. On November 16, 2023, he joined the Dallas Cowboys practice squad and was re-signed on March 6, 2024, before being released on August 15. On October 16, 2024, Davis signed with the Washington Commanders’ practice squad and played in three games, recording three tackles. He re-signed with the Commanders on May 27, 2025, before being released on August 27, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Carl Davis was known for his tall, long frame and his ability to occupy space along the interior defensive line. He showed strength at the point of attack during his Senior Bowl week and was recognized for beating top offensive tackles in one-on-one settings. His combination of size, length, and power allowed him to project as a run-stopping nose tackle and a rotational defensive end at the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Davis’s pre-draft process came during 2015 Senior Bowl week, when he was voted the Reese’s Senior Bowl Practice Player of the Week. On January 24, 2015, he helped the North defeat the South 34-13 while assisting on a tackle for a loss and sacking Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson. He was also the first member of the Ravens’ 2015 draft class to earn an NFL regular-season start.
Carl Davis Career Wins
As an interior defensive lineman, Carl Davis’s professional production has been measured in pressures, tackles, and contributions against the run rather than traditional win totals. Across his NFL stops, he has compiled 71 career tackles, 2.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and three pass deflections, according to statistics available through the 2024 season.
Team and Series Highlights
Davis earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in both 2013 and 2014 at the University of Iowa, marking his most decorated stretch as a starter. His first NFL regular-season start came on September 27, 2015, with the Baltimore Ravens against the Cincinnati Bengals. He recorded three combined tackles in his professional debut against the Denver Broncos and posted 11 tackles and two passes defended as a rookie.
Carl Davis Family
Family Background and Lineage
Carl Davis grew up in Detroit, Michigan, with strong family ties to the city. His mother, Ovella Davis, is a pastor in Detroit and has been a steady presence throughout his football career. The family background rooted him in community and faith as he pursued the sport from his high school days through the professional ranks.
Personal Life
In 2016, Davis founded the Trenchwork Foundation in Detroit, an initiative that reflects his commitment to giving back to the community that raised him. He has continued to be associated with the Detroit area through his work off the field, balancing the demands of an NFL career with efforts to support youth and families in his hometown.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into the 2025 season, Carl Davis re-signed with the Washington Commanders on May 27, 2025, before being released on August 27, 2025. His status at the start of the regular season remained uncertain following the late-summer release, leaving open the possibility of another opportunity elsewhere on a practice squad or as a rotational addition.
Given his lengthy track record of moving between rosters and signing late-season contracts, Davis has consistently demonstrated the durability and professionalism required to remain available throughout the league. Whether he lands with a new team or returns to the Commanders, his 2025 outlook reflects the journeyman reality that has defined much of his professional career, with continued production on the interior defensive line as the primary contribution he can offer.