Sean Davis grew up in Washington, DC idolizing Redskins’ late legend Sean Taylor. That is why he wore the No. 21 in college at Maryland and eventually in the pros with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the number is off limits with the Redskins, forcing Davis to consider a new number after signing with Washington this off-season.
Davis has opted to wear No. 36, according to the Redskins’ team website — Taylor’s rookie number with the Redskins before he switched to No. 21.
To note, running back Josh Ferguson who played two games last season with the Redskins, wore 36 and is currently still listed with the number as well on the team’s website. However, one can fully expect Davis will stake claim to the number by the time the season starts.
Davis is mimicking a familiar route other safeties whom idolized Taylor have done with the Redskins. DJ Swearinger and Su’a Cravens each took on the No. 36 after coming to Washington with No. 21 unavailable.
Hopefully, Davis has similar success as Swearinger without the messy ending.
The Redskins have assigned numbers to all of their incoming free agent signings, including Kendall Fuller, Thomas Davis and Kyle Allen, who they acquired from the Carolina Panthers in a pre-draft trade.
Kendall Fuller — No. 23
Cornerback Kendall Fuller signed a four-year, $40 million deal in March, returning to the Redskins after two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He will be assuming Quinton Dunbar’s old number. Dunbar was traded to the Seattle Seahawks after he requested a trade this offseason.
Fuller wore the same number in 2018 with the Chiefs before switching to No. 29. He wore the same number his second of two seasons with the Redskins during his initial run.
Ronald Darby — No. 35
Cornerback Ronald Darby is also another native of the DMV area, attending Potomac High School in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Darby signed a one-year deal with the Redskins after spending three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Darby is listed with the number 35. He wore 21 in his final two seasons with the Eagles. Of course, 21 is off limits. And the number 28 he wore with the Buffalo Bills is also out of rotation in Washington — see Darrell Green.
Kyle Allen — No. 8
Quarterback Kyle Allen wore number 7 in his two seasons with the Panthers. However, Dwayne Haskins wears that number, thus Allen is going up one digit to number 8.
Allen rejoins his former head coach Ron Rivera and quarterbacks coach Scott Turner, who is now the Redskins offensive coordinator. He is expected to compete with Haskins for the starting QB role.
Most of the remaining incoming players stuck with their old numbers, including running back JD McKissic sticking with No. 41. The only exception is tight end Richard Rodgers, who will wear 86 as incoming tight end Logan Thomas got the 82 he has worn the previous three seasons.
