With former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn becoming the head coach of the New York Jets, it is likely that some Lions players will join him in New York City.
One possible player is cornerback Carlton Davis, who enjoyed an outstanding first season in Detroit before a fractured jaw cut his campaign short. Currently, Davis is preparing to enter the free-agent market in 2025.
In the meantime, the Jets are expected to lose one of their starting boundary cornerbacks, D.J. Reed, who has explicitly stated his intention to play for another team this upcoming season.
“I’m prepared to enter free agency, man,” Reed mentioned in a piece by Tyler Dunne from Go Long. “I’m prepared to discover what comes next for me.”
As the Jets search for a new boundary cornerback to complement Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter, USA TODAY’s Nick Brinkerhoff forecasts that Davis will end up in New York. He also foresees Reed ending up in Detroit, but this is what he mentioned regarding Davis.
“With Reed leaving town for Detroit in our situation, there’s an opportunity for a new cornerback to arise in the Meadowlands,” Brinkerhoff stated. “Davis excelled in Glenn’s system last year in Detroit, making him an ideal player to accompany the coach to the Jets.”
At 28 years old, both Davis and Reed had similar coverage figures in 2025. Reed gave up completions on 57.1% of his passes, resulting in a passer rating of 87.1. In the meantime, Davis allowed a completion rate of 55.3% and achieved a passer rating of 77.1. Every player would fit the other’s role well.
The primary worry regarding Davis is his track record of injuries. The previous Super Bowl champion has never participated in over 14 games in one season throughout his career and has not exceeded 13 games since 2020.
As per Spotrac, Davis is projected to sign a three-year contract worth $41.3 million in free agency, averaging $13.8 million each year.
Considering numerous urgent requirements and only $20.9 million in cap space, the Jets may hesitate to allocate that salary for a No. 2 cornerback, opting instead for a more affordable choice in free agency or the draft.
Davis would be an excellent substitute for Reed and would provide Glenn with a reliable support during the setup of his defense. If the new Jets head coach truly desires him, it’s certainly possible for New York to pursue Davis.