The Detroit Lions face decisions on more than 30 upcoming free agents in the 2025 offseason, with cornerback Carlton Davis near the top of that list.
Davis was obtained through a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last offseason and significantly influenced Detroit’s performance until his season-ending jaw fracture injury. Davis achieved a career-low passer rating allowed of 77.0, and his 55.3% completion rate given up was the third-best of his career.
As Davis is set to enter free agency in March, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes the Jacksonville Jaguars might be interested in the experienced cornerback, who is expected to secure a three-year, $41.3 million contract in free agency, according to Spotrac.
“Certain teams consider Davis to be the second-best corner in the class,” Fowler wrote. “Keep an eye on Jacksonville as they may take action soon.” The Jaguars probably won’t be major players in free agency, but they aim to strengthen their secondary.
It’s clear why the Jaguars would be interested in Davis. Last season, Jacksonville had the NFL’s poorest pass defense, allowing 257.4 yards per game. Davis would give the Jags’ defense an instant and substantial enhancement.
The worry about Davis, however, is that he has faced challenges with maintaining his health throughout his career. Davis has never completed a full season and has not participated in over 14 games in any season.
The Lions’ consideration of re-signing Davis will hinge on their assessment of starting 2024 second-round pick and cornerback, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., whose performance last season left many questions unanswered.
Rakestraw recently disclosed that the initial plan was for the Lions to have him start in the slot prior to his injury. It’s highly likely the Lions are considering that strategy again in 2024, or they might place Rakestraw outside while keeping Amik Robertson in the slot, where he excelled.
“Many individuals were unaware of that,” Rakestraw remarked about the decision for him to begin in the slot, per Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. “I injured myself during warm-ups.” Therefore, it felt like a setback and a retreat.
Clearly, it is evident that having Rakestraw as a starting player in 2025 would allow the Lions to save significantly on costs, yet it also poses a risk for a team aiming for the Super Bowl. Given that, it’s quite likely the Lions will attempt to re-sign Davis.
Regardless of the circumstances, Davis will have numerous interested teams, and the Jaguars are likely to be among the clubs competing for the services of the former Super Bowl champion.