Saints testing linebacker Demario Davis' versatility this offseason

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Linebacker Demario Davis enjoyed the most productive season of his career in 2017 with the New York Jets, but there's no guarantee he'll play the same position with the New Orleans Saints in 2018.

During organized team activities last week, Davis split time between the middle (Mike) and weak-side (Will) linebacker roles as coaches looked to mix up the lineup to find the best combination of players.

When Davis signed a three-year, $24 million deal in March, it seemed a safe bet he would slot into the Mike role, the same position he'd been playing with the Jets. For now, though, the coaches are evaluating the linebackers at as many positions as possible, including their high-priced free agent.

"I'm playing whatever they ask of me," he said. "I think they're just trying to get a feel for everything, so whatever they ask me to do, that's what I do."

Davis last year led the Jets in tackles (135), sacks (5), tackles for loss (13) and had three passes defensed while being the Mike linebacker for the Jets. In New Orleans, A.J. Klein, Manti Te'o and Craig Robertson all have experience in the middle and using the helmet communication device, but Davis' contract indicated he would immediately become the man to beat for that role.

Although the other middle linebackers have an edge on Davis because of their experience with the Saints, Davis said playing in three different defenses during his six-year career should help him adjust quickly to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's scheme.

Where Davis is working in OTAs doesn't necessarily have any bearing on what will happen in the season. Allen said earlier this month the plan was to move the linebackers around to evaluate them and find the best positions to utilize their strengths while hopefully hiding their weaknesses. For Davis, run defense and pass rush seem to be strengths more than pass coverage, but the Saints still have time to evaluate his game.

Because the Saints seem to have a surplus of middle linebackers, it makes sense to see what Davis can do at Will. The team is optimistic Alex Anzalone can return to the form that helped him earn the weak side job at the start of his rookie season last year, but shoulder injuries dating back to college make it harder to expect Anzalone to stay healthy.

Robertson is the top backup on the weak side, but perhaps Davis can handle that role if injuries start to impact the group. The only way to find out is through practice.

Thus far, A.J. Klein has not been practicing as he recovers from groin surgery, but he'll add to the competition at multiple spots when he returns.

"That will sort itself out as we get a little bit healthier and closer to training camp," coach Payton said of finding fits for the linebackers.

Klein last season was the lead communicator for the defense, playing strong-side linebacker in the base defense and moving to the middle when there were just two linebackers on the field.

Presumably, the top linebacker group for the Saints is Klein on the strong side, Davis in the middle and Anzalone on the weak side, but Te'o, Robertson, Nate Stupar and others will try to find roles, too.

"That's what you want; you always want competition," Davis said. "Competition, I feel like, brings out the best in everybody on both sides of the ball, so I'm just excited."

And Davis thinks the Saints have enough good linebackers to have the competition benefit him all offseason.

"I want to challenge the guys around me, and I want them to challenge me the same," he said. "That's how you bring out the best in each other."