Auburn’s Ryan Davis signs with Patriots as free agent

Former Auburn WR Ryan Davis signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent, per his Twitter page. Davis will join former teammate Jarrett Stidham, who was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round on Saturday. Davis went undrafted.

Davis is Auburn”s all-time receptions leader, with 178 catches. He was 14th in yardage at 1,555. He didn’t have many big-yardage plays, especially this season, and caught only one TD in 2018. As a result, he was projected as either a late-round selection or a free agent.

“I know a lot of people get the misconception that I’m a short-yardage guy or someone who can’t really run routes,” Davis said back in December. “Not big enough. But I definitely feel like there’s a place for me in the NFL — whether it’s on special teams, punt return, or just in the slot, doing different things.”

He is right that there is a place with him in the NFL. It will be with the defending Super Bowl champions, as he works with Tom Brady and Stidham to try and earn a roster spot.

Davis participated in the East-West Shrine game, and did well, by all accounts. He said he felt as though he answered questions about his route running during the pre-draft process.

“My route running was a question, due to the offense,” Davis said in March. “I feel like I answered those things and showed I can catch the ball, catch the deep route, that I do have some long speed, so I definitely feel like I improved (my stock).”

Davis will have a spot in Auburn history. Now he’s trying to make it so he can leave a mark on the NFL, too.

John Reed