CB Carlton Davis was acquired by the Detroit Lions from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On Monday, the Detroit Lions acquired a new top cornerback, but it’s not the player you were expecting.
In exchange for cornerback Carlton Davis and sixth-round selections in the following two NFL drafts, the Lions gave a third-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In exchange, the Lions forfeited their own third-round pick, No. 92 overall. They still possess the third-round pick (number 73 overall) obtained by the NFL in free agency in the 2022 trade for T.J. Hockenson.
Since his rookie year, Davis has been a full-time starter for the Bucs, recording two interceptions in 12 starts. Pro Football Reference reports that he had a 96.1 passer rating and let up four touchdowns last season, but he missed five games due to a variety of injuries.
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Davis, who turns 28 in December, is 6 feet 1 and 206 pounds, which gives him the size and versatility the Lions look for in a cornerback.
In the Lions’ January playoff victory over the Bucs, he recorded seven tackles. In October, when the Lions defeated the Bucs in Tampa, Craig Reynolds provided a bone-rattling block on Amon-Ra St. Brown’s touchdown catch-and-run.
As they looked around to strengthen their secondary this offseason, the Lions had been linked to a number of elite cornerbacks in recent weeks, including Carlton Davis, Greg Newsome, and Kansas City Chiefs franchise cornerback L’Jarius Sneed.
Even though the Lions signed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and cornerbacks Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley in free agency, they finished the previous season with the 30th-highest passing yards allowed (7.15) and 27th-lowest passing yards allowed.
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Due to an ACL tear, Moseley only saw two snaps of action in the previous campaign; however, he recently re-signed with the Lions. Gardner-Johnson’s torn pectoral muscle limited him to just three games during the regular season. Additionally, according to Pro Football Reference, Sutton had a dismal first campaign in Detroit, surrendering a 112.3 quarterback rating.
The Lions should have a stronger, more versatile secondary this autumn with Davis back in the fold.
Since Davis can cover both cornerback positions, Sutton won’t have to cover as many No. 1 opponents. When healthy, Moseley will challenge for a starting role at cornerback, where he is an improvement at number three. After an impressive first campaign, slot cornerback Brian Branch is back. Additionally, starting at safety, Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu are anticipated to return.
Before the new league year began on Wednesday, the Lions informed Jerry Jacobs, a part-time starter at cornerback the previous season, that they would not be offering him a restricted free agent contract. Gardner-Johnson and Kindle Vildor, who concluded the season as the Lions’ second-best cornerback combination, will be allowed to become unrestricted free agents.
Davis, who is nearing the end of his contract, is expected to get a basic salary of $14 million this autumn. The outside cornerback position will remain a need for the Lions in the long run if they choose not to attempt to extend his contract.
Before the free agent negotiation period began, the Lions, who had more than $40 million in cap space, reached an agreement with left guard Graham Glasgow on a new three-year contract.
According to NFL Network, they also reached an agreement for defensive end Marcus Davenport of the Minnesota Vikings to sign a one-year free agent contract. Davenport spent his first five seasons as a player with the New Orleans Saints, spending the first three of those seasons in New Orleans with defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and coach Dan Campbell of the Lions.
