49ers Roster, 90-in-90 breakdowns: Anthony Davis

Here at Niners Nation, we're presenting a series called "90-in-90". We'll be looking at every player on the 49ers offseason roster, one player per post, from now until the start of training camp.

When the 49ers drafted Anthony Davis, many thought it was a major reach to move up to the 11th overall selection in order to get him. There were questions about whether he could play left tackle in the NFL, generally the side of the line you spend a high first round pick on. Then there was the slow start to his career, with penalties and some less-than-stellar pass-blocking.

Fast forward to now and the 49ers are looking pretty smart for picking Davis. He's become a cornerstone of the run game with his fierce, nastiness and willingness to continue blocking all the way down the field. He routinely picks guys off his running backs and is the first one to step into a skirmish, including the one between Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz.

Davis has also improved his pass-blocking and cut down on his penalties on his way to earning the 49ers Bobb McKittrick Award, representing "courage, intensity and sacrifice". He also earned himself a nice new contract this off-season worth $37M over five years. Rotoworld called Davis "a cinch top-five right tackle at age 23".

Chances he improves in 2013

I think he's only getting better as he matures and learns how to be a pro. He's still shown his age a few times, and there's no doubt that as he gets wiser he will find better ways to play the game. He's got a great locker room and surrounding cast to help him out, too. I'd expect Davis to be in the hunt for a ProBowl nod in 2013.

Chances he regresses in 2013

I feel like a homer, but I just don't see it happening. The only way he regresses is if he lets guys get in his head during games and hauls-off and punches someone. That isn't entirely out of the question, but it would have to happen with some regularity to hurt the team. I suppose you could worry about complacency with the new contract, but I don't get that vibe from Davis whatsoever. He got paid a lot when he came into the league as a 20 year old, too, and he has played well in spite of it.

Odds of making the roster

If I have to answer this for you, please put your rock on the market and live among the rest of the world, in the light.