If the Detroit Lions fail to re-sign one of their key free agents, they might turn to a free agent from a division rival as a solid backup option.
Carlton Davis was
exactly the kind of top cornerback the Lions needed this season before a broken jaw ended his campaign early. In the 13 games he played, Davis recorded 11 pass breakups, two interceptions, and allowed a passer rating of 77.0. His play also brought the kind of confidence the Lions had been missing.
Davis will be a free agent in March, and while the Lions will likely do everything they can to re-sign him, there’s a chance he could earn more on the open market than the team is willing to offer. If that happens, no one should fault him for seeking a better deal.
Spotrac estimates Davis’s market value at $13.8 million per year, with a contract projection of three years, $41.3 million. Given the Lions’ ample cap space, including carryover from the current year, they have the financial flexibility to afford a deal like that.
However, the possibility remains that Davis might attract a competitive market, leading to his departure.
In that case, the Lions would need to find a suitable replacement. Two experts have suggested a potential free agent target for Detroit.
Matt Holder from Bleacher Report highlighted Byron Murphy as a top cornerback target for the offseason.
Similarly, Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus included Murphy in his list of top free agents each NFL team should pursue. Both agree that if Davis leaves, Murphy could be a strong addition to the Lions’ defense.
Murphy is coming off a career-best season in which he set personal records with six interceptions, 14 pass breakups, and 81 total tackles, while allowing a passer rating of 76.7. He has demonstrated versatility, playing both outside cornerback (643 snaps) and in the slot (307 snaps), as well as filling in at free safety (13 snaps) and in the box (76 snaps).
Given that the Lions were actively seeking cornerbacks during the 2023 offseason, it’s reasonable to assume they might have shown interest in Murphy before.
If Davis does leave, Murphy could be a valuable fallback plan for Detroit in free agency, which is just a couple of months away.
By targeting Murphy, the Lions would have an experienced and versatile cornerback to fill the significant void left by Davis.