Former 49ers tackle Kalia Davis inks a deal with the Browns, aiming to bolster Cleveland's defensive line with his disruptive potential.
Former San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Kalia Davis is taking his talents to Cleveland after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns on Friday.
Davis' deal is worth up to $3 million, and he departs from the 49ers after three years with the team. The UCF alum played in all 17 games for San Francisco, plus the two postseason matches against the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks.
Jake Burns, the host of the Browns Film Breakdown podcast on YouTube, said Davis "feels like a Shelby Harris replacement," citing his age as a key reason for the signing. Burns analyzed Davis' play style and how he fits in the Browns' defensive scheme.
"He's more of a 3-tech for San Fran," Burns said. "The Browns are a little more fluid. They'll play guys inside and out, and kind of bump them down the line. So, I think looking at his tape and body style, he can handle both of those roles in my opinion."
The 6-foot-2 defensive tackle totaled 28 tackles (10 solo), 0.5 sack, 4.5 stuffs and three passes defended.
San Francisco drafted Davis in the sixth round as the 220th pick. Davis played three games in his rookie year, but worked his way up the depth chart in the following years.
He played 13 games in 2024 and 19 games this past season, transforming into a reliable defensive piece for the 49ers. Despite Davis' performance, San Francisco decided not to extend a qualifying offer to him, leading to his new contract with Cleveland.
Davis, a Pensacola native, spent his entire collegiate career at UCF. In three seasons — redshirted his freshman year and opted out of the 2020 season — Davis accumulated 61 tackles (32 solo), two passes defended, four sacks and a forced fumble.
He earned AAC Defensive Player of the Week and preseason third-team all-conference honors from Phil Steele and Athlon in his final year with the Knights.
Davis played five games in 2021 before missing the rest of the season due to a torn ACL. Despite the season-ending injury, he received an invitation to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, where Lance Zierlein, an NFL analyst, noticed his potential.
"He hasn't played much football over the last two seasons, but his explosive flashes could foreshadow a bright upside as a disruptive, upfield talent," Zierlein wrote on NFL.com.
Davis continues to write his NFL story, as the next chapter starts with the Cleveland Browns, where he joins a relatively young defensive tackle room.
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