The Toronto Argonauts have submitted an offer for veteran defensive end Ja’Gared Davis, per sources.
The 31-year-old Davis has spent the last two CFL seasons with Hamilton playing for the Tiger-Cats, but the Argos are now considered the favourites to sign the star pass rusher. Toronto acted quickly after the league’s pending free agent negotiation window opened on Sunday at noon ET.
Argonauts defensive coordinator Corey Mace was in Calgary when Davis came into the three-down league in 2016 and helped develop the talented quarterback takedown artist. The two men spent three seasons together with the Stampeders, winning a Grey Cup in 2018.
According to CFL regulations, other teams now have until Sunday, February 6 to make competing offers, before the Ticats are granted an exclusive 48-hour window to make their own contract proposal. Davis has from 10 a.m. ET to noon ET on Tuesday, February 8 to choose from any of the officially tabled offers, after which they are rendered void and he can become an official free agent.
The 31-year-old started 13 regular season games for Hamilton in 2021, recording 39 tackles and six sacks then exploded during the Ticats run to the 108th Grey Cup. In three playoff games, Davis registered seven tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble.
Over his five-year CFL career with the Stamps and Tabbies, Davis has suited up in 75 games, posting 216 tackles, four special teams tackles, 42 sacks, 10 pass knock downs, 10 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, three interceptions, one blocked punt and two touchdowns, one fumble return and one interception return.
Coming out of Southern Methodist University, Davis went unselected in the 2013 NFL Draft. He signed with the Houston Texans, however the New England Patriots claimed him on waivers following training camp. He played four games for Bill Belichick, although the Pats released him in late November that year. After that, Davis had stints with Kansas City and Washington.
The six-foot-one, 238-pound Davis has played in eight career NFL games making five tackles while earning $639,069 USD.
Last off-season, the Argonauts made headlines by bringing in a talented crew of defensive ends that included future Hall of Famer Charleston Hughes, Cordarro Law and former NFL first-round draft pick Shane Ray. Those three players combined for five sacks in 2021, as the bulk of Toronto’s defensive pressure came up the middle from Shawn Oakman.
General manager Pinball Clemons and head coach Ryan Dinwiddie want to finalize a contract with Davis who is 3DownNation’s number two free agent. He earned $180,000 prorated during the shortened 2021 season.
