Former Viking Auditions for Patriots
The New England Patriots have a 1-3 record through four games and are considered the NFL’s fourth-worst team per DVOA.
Former Viking Auditions for Patriots
And they may be looking to bolster offensive line depth with a former Minnesota Viking if the man parlays a tryout into a contract.
He’s Jesse Davis, a member of the Vikings for a few months in 2022. ESPN’s Mike Weiss tweeted Tuesday, a couple of days after the San Francisco 49ers toppled New England: “The Patriots had veteran OT/G Jesse Davis in for a workout. Davis (6-6, 309) has played in 95 games, with 72 starts. Most recently with Saints. Also time with 49ers, Steelers, Vikings, Dolphins, Jets and Seahawks.”
Here’s Davis’ NFL resume to date:
- Seattle Seahawks (2015)
- New York Jets (2016)
- Miami Dolphins (2016–2021)
- Minnesota Vikings (2022)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2022)
- San Francisco 49ers (2023)
- New Orleans Saints (2024)
Assuming Davis would play guard in New England — he can also play tackle — these are the Patriots OGs at the moment:
- Layden Robinson
- Sidy Sow
- Zach Thomas
- Michael Jordan
- Liam Fornadel (Practice Squad)
Davis signed with the New Orleans Saints in late July, sticking around The Big Easy until roster trimdowns on August 27th. Davis saw action briefly in 2023, playing just one game for the 49ers, a Week 12 contest at Seattle, where he grabbed five special teams snaps.
Davis was the right tackle for the Miami Dolphins in 2021, playing 92% of all offensive snaps, and an undrafted free agent from the 2015 draft class from the University of Idaho, arriving in Miami for on-the-field playing time and remaining for five seasons.
During his first two years in Miami, he played at right guard as the starter (2017 and 2018). From 2017 to 2021, Davis was on the field for at least 90% of the Dolphins offensive snaps each season. The veteran lineman hasn’t played an offensive snap in the regular season since 2021.
Davis joined the Vikings via free agency in March 2022, a possible plan to help stop the longstanding OL woes in Minnesota. But he was only theoretical, at least per regular season contribution, as Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shipped Davis to the Pittsburgh Steelers three months later for a conditional 7th-Round pick.
The Steelers then used Davis in 14 games in 2022, all special teams snaps, a total of 58. Davis embarked on free agency in 2023 but signed with no team until November of that season, the 49ers contract.
This is Davis’ PFF resume since 2017:
- 2015 = DNP on Offense
- 2016 = DNP on Offense
- 2017 = 52.5
- 2018 = 59.2
- 2019 = 58.9
- 2020 = 62.6
- 2021 = 52.5
- 2022 = DNP on Offense
- 2023 = DNP on Offense
The Patriots employ three other former Vikings: Vederian Lowe (OT), K.J. Osborn (WR), and Jaquelin Roy (DT, PS).
Davis turned 33 last month.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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