Carlton Davis III is a cornerback whom the Detroit Lions have added to their group. To acquire the seasoned defensive back, general manager Brad Holmes arranged a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday.
The Lions will give Tampa Bay their second third-round selection (No. 92 overall) in the upcoming April draft in return for Davis. However, Detroit will also receive two sixth-round picks, one in 2024 and another in 2025, as part of the transaction.
Davis, a second-round selection by the Buccaneers in the 2018 draft, spent the first six seasons of his career in Tampa Bay. Across 76 games with the franchise, the 27-year-old amassed nine interceptions and defended 73 passes. His standout season arguably came in 2020, where he registered a career-high 68 total tackles, four interceptions, and 18 passes defended.
While Davis has had a solid career, he is not considered a top-tier No. 1 cornerback. He is better suited to serve as a team’s No. 2 corner but has demonstrated proficiency in that role.
In the 2023 season, according to Pro Focus, he excelled in man coverage, allowing no touchdowns and just a 75.1 passer rating when targeted. Additionally, he ranks second in the NFL for passes defended over the last five seasons, with 69.
However, this acquisition likely won’t be the Lions’ sole move to upgrade their cornerback unit. It’s expected that Holmes and his team will continue to pursue top-flight corners in free agency, such as Dallas’ Stephon Gilmore.
