2026 NFL Prospect Profile: Washington Cornerback Tacario Davis

Tacario Davis attended Millikan High School in Long Beach, California, where he played both defensive back and wide receiver. He totaled 74 tackles along with 26 receptions for 463 yards in his high school career. In his final year, he was a first-team All-Moore League selection and a team captain. Davis was ranked a three-star recruit by 247Sports and committed to the University of Arizona over offers from Kansas and Arizona State. 

Davis appeared in five games for the Wildcats as a true freshman in 2022 and posted seven total tackles in a limited reserve role. He made a huge jump forward in 2023, becoming one of the top cornerbacks in the nation. He played 13 games, 11 as a starter, while collecting 25 tackles, an interception, and leading the Pac-12 conference in both pass breakups (15) and passes defended (16). 

He was named a second-team All-Pac 12 selection by the AP. Davis entered the NCAA transfer portal after the 2023 season but ultimately returned to Arizona for the 2024 season. However, for his final collegiate season, Davis transferred to Washington to play for the Huskies. 

Strengths 

• Footwork
• Length
• Size
• Zone Coverage
• Burst
• Press Coverage

Tacario Davis has superior size and length, using his reach to be a disruptive force in the passing game. He possesses pro-level footwork that helps him to get in and out of his back pedal and transition effortlessly. 

However, Davis is at his best when in zone coverage and understands his opponent's (and his own) assignments well. He has a quick burst that allows him to break on the ball and disrupt the pass. 

He excels when in press coverage and uses his length to keep wide receivers from getting a clean break off the line of scrimmage. Davis can stop and go when needed and uses his long stride to make up space quickly.

Weaknesses

• Man Coverage
• Strength
• Shedding blocks
• Tackling Mechanics

Davis’s play strength is not elite, and he can be beaten one-on-one by physical receivers when going up for a 50/50 ball. His length makes it harder for him to cover a smaller and shiftier wide receiver in man-to-man coverage. He tends to struggle taking on and shedding blocks, which is another reason he needs to get stronger and add some mass to his 6-foot-4 frame. Although he is a willing tackler, Davis needs to improve his tackling mechanics, especially in the open field. 

Conclusion 

Tacario Davis is a unique cornerback with his 6-foot-4 frame. Although he may not be a shutdown cornerback like Sauce Gardner, he can be used in several different ways and gives defensive coordinators a weapon to have at their disposal. Draft Nation feels that Davis could go in the second round and become a solid starting cornerback for some lucky team.

Veteran corner Benjamin St-Juste is a good pro comparison for Tacario Davis. While at the University of Minnesota, St-Juste struggled with man-to-man against smaller receivers but has transformed himself into a solid starting cornerback in the NFL.