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- 49ers Get Busy - Davis Signed

Chris Pokorny July 28, 2006
Chris Pokorny
PFC Owner & Writer

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The San Francisco 49ers may have had the best first-round out of all the teams in the league, and both of their draft picks are now signed. The 49ers signed defensive end/linebacker Manny Lawson and tight end Vernon Davis to deals on Friday. Davis, the sixth overall pick of the draft from Maryland, was glad to have signed in time.

"I was stressing at first, because I didn't know when it was going to get done," said Davis. "I told (the negotiators) I just wanted to get out there and play. I'm not a guy who can miss days."

Last year, Davis caught 51 passes for 871 yards and six touchdowns. He was the highest tight end selected since Kellen Winslow Jr. two seasons ago. Davis will compete with veteran tight end Eric Johnson for playing time.

"Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to play with Norv Turner, and that's how it worked out," Davis said.

Davis is another tight end coming out of the draft who is very athletic after playing football, basketball, and track. Davis drew eyes from a lot of teams because he has the speed of a receiver to go along with the great strength that a tight end is expected to have. He has good hands and is able to run his routes very well. Davis will work in any system that utilizes the tight end position often and can be split out as a wide receiver to create special packages. There is some concern as to whether or not he can block well enough when he's not running a route.

Lawson, the 22nd overall pick in the draft. Lawson is a defensive end from North Carolina State. He did well during his final season at college, which puts him just behind Mario Williams in a class of talented defensive ends.

Lawson played both outside linebacker and defensive end at NC State, but he will be drafted as a defensive end. He is unbelievably quick around the corner, making it tough for offensive tackles to keep him contained. His long arms don't make it any easier for offensive lineman either. He will continue to get a pass rush on quarterbacks thoughout the game due to his ability to get to the outside. He will often find a running back in the backfield too and take them down before they get past the line of scrimmage. His height, along with his leaping ability, allows him to get in the quarterbacks vision and bat passes down at the line. He can also drop back enough into coverage, which improved via his time as a linebacker. If teams run the ball all day though, Lawson could be in trouble. He doesn't have the size to take a beating from the offensive line all day.


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