Commanders sign ex-Chargers cornerback Davis

The Washington Commanders made an addition to their secondary on Monday, signing cornerback Michael Davis, the team announced.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The team had a need at the position after Kendall Fuller agreed to a deal with the Miami Dolphins last week.

Davis joins running back Austin Ekeler as prominent Chargers free agents to sign with the Commanders during the free agency period.

Since signing a three-year, $25.2 million extension with the Chargers after the 2020 season, Davis has shown promise, but his play took a step back in 2023 — partly, he said, because of the team’s mishaps in the cornerback room.

The team rotated between J.C. Jackson and Davis early in 2023, which Davis said hurt his ability to get into a rhythm. The Chargers eventually traded Jackson ahead of Week 5.

Even with Jackson gone, Davis wasn’t the player he was in 2022, allowing career highs of 13.8 yards per completion and 9 yards per target, and he was benched for multiple games by then-coach Brandon Staley.

In 2022, Davis had a career-high 15 passes deflected and allowed career lows of 9.9 yards per completion and 4.4 yards per target while filling in for Jackson, who was injured.

Ultimately, Davis is a quick and lengthy corner (6-foot-2, 196 pounds, 4.35 40-yard dash) who has proven he can play at a high level.

He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2017, and by his third season, Davis was a starter, securing two interceptions that season. After a 2020 season in which he had a career-high three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, Davis signed his extension.

ESPN’s Kris Rhim contributed to this report.

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