The Detroit Lions had an lively Day 1 of free company. They began by re-signing one in every of their gamers, Graham Glasgow. Later within the day, they agreed to phrases with a free agent in Marcus Davenport, they usually closed out the evening by buying and selling with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to land cornerback Carlton Davis. Lions common supervisor Brad Holmes is doing work throughout, and it’s enjoyable to see it unfold.
The Lions acquired the assistance they wanted within the secondary with this commerce because the workforce’s greatest weak point in 2023 was at cornerback they usually acquired it at a good value. Listed below are the total commerce particulars:
Lions get:
- CB Carlton Davis
- 2024 sixth-round decide (Both decide 200 or 220. It’s unclear which decide)
- 2025 sixth-round decide
Buccaneers get:
- 2024 third-round decide (92nd general—the Lions’ unique third-round decide, not the Vikings’ decide acquired within the T.J. Hockenson commerce)
With Davis touchdown in Detroit, the Lions’ secondary points are solved! Or are they? How did this commerce prove grade smart and was it a smart transfer by the workforce?
How good is Carlton Davis?
Hey, CB 1. Sure, we stated this about cornerback Cameron Sutton again in 2022, however we imply it this time. Davis wasn’t the highest cornerback in Tampa Bay both, as Jamel Dean had that job, however he was nonetheless a really strong quantity two cornerback. In his profession to date, Davis has 324 tackles, 73 move deflections, 12 tackles for loss, 9 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries, and three compelled fumbles.
Davis goes to be the principle cornerback you may belief in man protection in opposition to a primary extensive receiver. In line with PFF, in man protection throughout the common season final 12 months, Davis allowed 15 catches on 25 targets for 238 yards, getting 4 move deflections and an interception, permitting a QB passer ranking of 75.1, and most significantly, not permitting a landing. Zone protection is a bit of little bit of a distinct story for Davis, as he allowed 31 catches for 487 yards, getting three move deflections, one interception, and permitting a passer ranking of 122.3, together with permitting 4 touchdowns.
How does this have an effect on the Lions?
This commerce helps the Lions out within the secondary, and I believe it signifies that cornerback isn’t going to be a high decide for the workforce within the NFL Draft in April. The workforce will nonetheless get some assist on the place, this commerce actually doesn’t imply they’re carried out, however I see the best they go at cornerback now’s the second spherical with Sutton and Davis locking down the highest two spots.
This commerce additionally helps the secondary by, once more, bumping Sutton right down to the quantity two cornerback spot, which fits him higher and provides him a stronger likelihood at doing nicely on the sector. It helps the secondary out general and provides them a younger veteran, as Davis remains to be solely 27. He can proceed to develop and turn out to be a strong cornerback for years to come back in Detroit.
The difficulty with the commerce is Davis is within the ultimate 12 months of his three-year extension he signed with the Bucs again in 2022. The Lions are almost definitely going to increase Davis and rework his contract, which presently carries a whopping $14 million wage for 2024.
Was he definitely worth the value?
The commerce general appeared particularly reasonable. The Bucs get a late third-round decide, they usually unencumber some wage cap house that was wanted after re-signing quarterback Baker Mayfield and extensive receiver Mike Evans. The Lions get a beginning cornerback that may assist their tough secondary, they usually get two sixth-round picks to offset a number of the misplaced draft capital.
Now if the Lions select to increase Davis and rework his contract, that would be the greatest issue on this commerce. If the Lions solely give Davis one further 12 months, it isn’t the very best transfer. Their finest transfer could be to increase Davis for one more three or perhaps 4 years, locking him in Detroit till 2028. How a lot they re-sign him for can be fascinating as a result of the workforce has different gamers they must re-sign first, like offensive sort out Penei Sewell, quarterback Jared Goff, and extensive receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Placing Davis forward of gamers which were right here some time could be fascinating, to say the least.
Closing ideas and grade
Grade: B+
Total, this was a great commerce for each groups, and the Lions acquired some good assist general within the secondary. They now have their high two cornerback spots discovered with out attempting to danger a rookie in a troublesome spot early on in his profession. You will have some depth behind them, however you continue to go away the door open for a rookie to come back in as, at finest, the quantity three man who gained’t be compelled onto the sector instantly. That offers them the chance to develop behind David and Sutton.
The workforce may nonetheless signal one other free agent cornerback to assist with depth and take a cornerback later within the draft to be a deep depth addition. This transfer adjustments their draft focus at the least a day, and means they don’t have to leap into the highest cornerback market in free company. Davis can be an important addition to the workforce and with the largest weak point getting addressed early, it’s clear that Holmes is able to make the strikes essential to get the protection again on monitor.
If the secondary can enhance on protection, and the defensive position can generate a move rush, this protection may take one other leap in 2024. The protection made a pleasant adjustment from 2022 to 2023, however with strikes like this, 2024 might be a top-10 sort of 12 months for this unit.