Commanders draft bust fans the flames of historic rivalry with in-division switch

The Washington Commanders and Jamin Davis were always heading for a break-up. General manager Adam Peters didn't think much of the high-end draft picks made throughout previous head coach Ron Rivera's tenure. After his transition from linebacker to edge rusher flopped, the writing was on the wall.

Davis moved quickly to the fringes and was eventually cut during the season. This was disappointing for a player who had so much promise coming out of Kentucky. However, he got an instant route back into the game by joining the Green Bay Packers practice squad.

Now, the former first-round selection has inadvertently stoked the fires of a storied rivalry with a notable in-division switch.

Former Commanders star Jamin Davis signs for the Vikings

According to Tom Pelissero from the NFL Network, the Minnesota Vikings have signed Davis off the Packers' practice squad and onto their 53-man roster. This comes after undrafted free agent sensation Ivan Pace Jr. was forced to injured reserve.

This allows Davis to contribute to a legitimate playoff contender. The Vikings have far exceeded expectations this season and find themselves at 9-2. They look well on track for another playoff berth, which stems from Kevin O'Connell's masterful development of quarterback Sam Darnold and Minnesota's relentless defense under aggressive coordinator Brian Flores.

Davis comes in with a big point to prove. Just where the Vikings plan to use him remains to be seen. Pace was more of an off-ball presence with an overlooked ability to generate pressure consistently. The physical tools have never been in question, it's putting them together that's represented the biggest complication so far.

If anyone can ignite the spark within Davis, it's Flores. He's a no-nonsense coach from the Bill Belichick tree who has high standards for himself and the players working for him. It'll be a crash course in schematic demands, so it's sink or swim for the ex-Commanders star on his potential road to redemption.

This wasn't a choice for Davis. Practice squad players can get signed by another team if they're guaranteed a roster spot. Going from the Packers to the Vikings brings more attention to this than a typical transaction, but the objective for the second-level presence stays the same.

Davis has to seize the moment. He must get up to speed quickly and make his presence felt within Flores' blitz-happy defensive system. He must use his experiences in Washington as a source of motivation to start changing the narrative.

Signing with a team that could go deep into the postseason represents a chance to restore his reputation. Davis needs to grasp it accordingly in pursuit of earning a new deal in Minnesota or elsewhere next spring.

Nothing else will do. And it'll be interesting to see how things play out.