After six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carlton Davis arrived in Detroit with the hope of immediately boosting the Lions’ secondary. While injuries sidelined him at times, he made his mark and contributed to the Lions’ defensive resurgence under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
In an ideal world, the Lions would love to retain Davis, but this offseason could prove challenging. With many veterans potentially being released to create cap space, Davis’ first season in Detroit might also be his last.
As free agency kicks into full gear, the Lions face stiff competition from several teams eager to bolster their rosters, and these three franchises could pose the biggest threat in keeping Davis in Detroit.
Three Potential Landing Spots for Carlton Davis That the Lions Should Watch in Free Agency:
3. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are in the midst of revamping their front office, with former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll now at the helm and John Spytek, a former Buccaneers executive, as their general manager. Spytek kicked off free agency by bringing in one of his former Bucs players, Alex Cappa, and he could follow up with a move for Davis.
Las Vegas is still working on rebuilding its secondary, and adding a seasoned cornerback like Davis would provide a strong, experienced presence on the outside. With cap space available, the Raiders may be motivated to make a push for Davis, who brings playoff experience and the ability to handle tough matchups.
2. Green Bay Packers
The Packers might be ready to move on from cornerback Jaire Alexander due to his injury issues, making a player like Davis an appealing replacement. Over the past two seasons, Davis has proven to be one of the NFC’s top cornerbacks when healthy.
Given the Packers’ willingness to invest more heavily in free agency, adding Davis could strengthen their already formidable defense and position them for another Super Bowl run. Additionally, the Packers may relish the opportunity to snag a top player from a division rival, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the situation.
1. Baltimore Ravens
While the Ravens have emerging stars like Nate Wiggins and Kyle Hamilton, much of their secondary remains uncertain. Key players like Marlon Humphrey could be on the way out, and Marcus Williams may be cut loose. Meanwhile, Brandon Stephens struggled last season.
With Lamar Jackson leading the offense, the Ravens are in win-now mode, and bolstering the secondary could be their top priority. Detroit might offer Davis a solid contract, but the Ravens could come in with an equally strong bid, despite the added difficulty of playing in the more competitive AFC.
For the Lions, holding on to Davis in a competitive market will be a tough challenge, but with his experience and leadership, he could be a key piece in their defensive future. The battle for his services is just getting started.
