Carl Davis Bio
Carl Davis (born March 2, 1992) is an American professional football defensive tackle. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing around 335 pounds, Davis has built a career as an interior defensive lineman, contributing on both nose tackle and defensive end rotations across multiple National Football League franchises.
Over the course of his professional career, Davis has been a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Commanders. Known for his size and run-defense background, he has also worked in developmental and practice-squad roles while continuing to compete for roster positions.
Early Life and Background
Carl Davis was born on March 2, 1992, in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in the Detroit area and attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School, where he developed into a highly regarded defensive lineman. His mother, Ovella Davis, is a pastor in Detroit and has been a guiding presence in his life.
At Stevenson, Davis was a multi-sport athlete who lettered in football, basketball, and track and field. He became a focal point of the football program, posting 47 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hurries, and three sacks as a junior, then recording 58 tackles and six sacks as a senior while leading his team to a 13–1 record and a state championship game appearance at Ford Field. He also blocked two field goals, intercepted a pass, and scored a touchdown during his high school career.
His performance earned him first-team All-State honors from the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, and The Macomb Daily, along with first-team All-Conference recognition as a senior. These results established him as one of the top defensive line prospects in Michigan and helped set the stage for his college recruitment.
Path to American Football
Davis committed to the University of Iowa, where he joined a defensive line pipeline known for producing NFL-ready linemen. He was redshirted as a true freshman in 2010, preserving a year of eligibility while adjusting to the college game. As a redshirt freshman in 2011, he appeared in six games and recorded two tackles, giving him his first taste of Big Ten competition.
By his sophomore season in 2012, Davis had grown into a rotational contributor, playing in 11 games and finishing with eight tackles. The following year, he stepped into a starting role as a junior in 2013, starting all 13 games and totaling 42 tackles with 1.5 sacks. That production earned him second-team All-Big Ten recognition, a distinction he would repeat in 2014 as a senior starter, confirming his status as one of the conference’s top interior linemen.
Following the 2014 season, Davis received an invitation to the 2015 Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he practiced with the North team under Tennessee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt. He was voted the Senior Bowl Practice Player of the Week after dominant showings against Pittsburgh offensive tackle T. J. Clemmings and helped the North defeat the South 34-13 in the game itself, recording an assist on a tackle for loss and a sack of Colorado State quarterback Garrett Grayson. He then completed most drills at the NFL Combine, held pre-draft visits with six teams, and was projected as a second-round pick before the draft.
Carl Davis Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
The Baltimore Ravens selected Davis in the third round, 90th overall, of the 2015 NFL draft, making him the fifth defensive tackle off the board. He signed a four-year, $2.95 million contract that included a $625,084 signing bonus and entered camp competing with Brandon Williams and Christo Bilukidi for the starting nose tackle role left open by Haloti Ngata’s departure.
Davis made his regular-season debut in the Ravens’ opener against the Denver Broncos, recording three combined tackles and a pass deflection, and started his first game on September 27, 2015, against the Cincinnati Bengals. In 13 games as a rookie, he produced 11 tackles and two passes defended. He missed the entire 2016 season after an ankle injury in the preseason finale led to a placement on injured reserve, and he returned in 2017 to serve primarily as a backup defensive end before a hamstring injury limited him late in the year. Baltimore waived him on September 1, 2018.
Baltimore Ravens Breakthrough (2015–2018)
Although Davis’s tenure in Baltimore was shortened by injury, his first chapter in the league was defined by the team’s confidence in his upside as a top-100 pick. The Ravens viewed him as the best available talent on the board despite not having hosted him on a pre-draft visit, and he became the first member of the 2015 draft class to earn a start. His early starts and his preseason battle with Brandon Williams showed the organization he could play the nose tackle position in base defense.
After missing 2016, Davis returned in 2017 and earned a start on October 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, recording three solo tackles. A hamstring injury limited him over the following weeks, and his time in Baltimore ended the following September when the Ravens waived him at the start of 2018 roster cutdowns.
Cleveland Browns Era (2018–2019)
The Cleveland Browns claimed Davis off waivers on September 2, 2018, providing him an immediate opportunity to extend his career. He played minimally in 2018, registering just one assisted tackle, but the Browns brought him back on a one-year, $2 million contract on March 12, 2019. Cleveland released him on August 31, 2019, before the start of the regular season.
Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars (2019–2020)
Davis signed with the Indianapolis Colts on October 14, 2019, and was released three weeks later on November 4. On November 25, 2019, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, where his stay was marked by off-field discipline; on February 4, 2020, the NFL suspended him the first four games of the 2020 season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. The Jaguars re-signed him, and after his reinstatement in October 2020, he was released and quickly added to the team’s practice squad.
New England Patriots Era (2020–2023)
The New England Patriots signed Davis off the Jaguars practice squad on October 14, 2020. A concussion landed him on injured reserve in late November, and although he was designated to return in December, he was not activated before season’s end. Davis signed a contract extension on March 15, 2021, and re-signed with the Patriots on April 27, 2022, before being released on August 27, 2023.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2023–2024)
On November 16, 2023, the Dallas Cowboys signed Davis to their practice squad and re-signed him on March 6, 2024, before releasing him on August 15, 2024. His time in Dallas reflected a continued emphasis on veteran depth and developmental roles along the interior defensive line.
Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders (2023–2025)
Earlier in 2023, the Seattle Seahawks had signed Davis to their practice squad on September 20 before waiving him on October 31. Most recently, on October 16, 2024, Davis signed with the Washington Commanders’ practice squad and appeared in three games, recording three tackles. He re-signed with Washington on May 27, 2025, and was released on August 27, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Davis is recognized primarily for his size, length, and power at the point of attack, attributes that have made him a serviceable run defender and interior pass rusher in rotational roles. His background as a college nose tackle at Iowa helped him develop the anchor and hand technique needed to hold gaps against double-teams, while his experience in multiple defensive schemes has allowed him to play both nose tackle and defensive end in the NFL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Davis’s career highlights, being voted the 2015 Reese’s Senior Bowl Practice Player of the Week stands out, as does becoming the first member of the Ravens’ 2015 draft class to start a game. He also earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in both 2013 and 2014, and he recorded his first career sack during the Senior Bowl game itself.
Carl Davis Career Wins
While Davis’s role has typically been as a rotational and depth defensive lineman rather than a featured starter, his career wins include the 2015 Senior Bowl with the North team and a series of roster spots earned across the NFL. His first NFL victory came in regular-season action with the Baltimore Ravens during his rookie year.
Professional Highlights
Davis’s professional resume is built on longevity and versatility. Across stints with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Commanders, he has continued to draw interest as a veteran depth piece, including three games played with Washington in 2024.
Other Performances
Earlier in his career, Davis was a first-team All-State selection in Michigan and a starter on an Adlai E. Stevenson High School team that reached the state championship game at Ford Field. At Iowa, he was a multi-year starter and second-team All-Big Ten pick in 2013 and 2014.
Carl Davis Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Carl Davis was raised in Detroit, Michigan, where his mother, Ovella Davis, has served as a pastor. Her influence and faith-based background have been a steadying presence in his life, and Detroit remains closely tied to his identity as a player and as a community figure.
Community Work
In 2016, Davis founded the Trenchwork Foundation in Detroit, an initiative reflecting his commitment to giving back to the city where he grew up. The foundation extends his connection to his hometown and his work in the trenches of the game that shaped his career.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Davis signed a future contract with the Washington Commanders on May 27, 2025, signaling the franchise’s continued interest in his veteran presence along the interior defensive line. He was released on August 27, 2025, leaving his next step open as the regular season approached.
At 33 years old, Davis entered 2025 as a respected depth defender whose experience in multiple defensive schemes, including time as a nose tackle and defensive end, makes him a candidate for practice-squad or rotational work across the league. His performance in any 2025 opportunity will be measured less by headline numbers and more by his ability to anchor the run game and contribute on early-down passing downs.
For a player whose career has spanned a decade and eight franchises, the 2025 outlook centers on opportunity. Whether through a return to Washington or another club, Davis’s path forward depends on a team valuing his size, scheme flexibility, and the durability he has shown in bouncing back from injuries and roster moves throughout his career.