A crucial free agent still available for the Detroit Lions is cornerback Carlton Davis, who played a significant part and performed strongly in 2024 before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Davis acted as the primary cornerback for the Lions and provided essential veteran support alongside Terrion Arnold, who demonstrated significant potential in his first year. The ex-Super Bowl champion recorded some of the finest coverage statistics of his career, allowing Davis a completion rate of 55.3% and a passer rating of 77.0.
While Davis played a crucial role for the Lions, his future remains uncertain as he approaches free agency. It’s uncertain whether Detroit desires his return, but the team might allow him to leave with Ennis Rakestraw Jr. poised to begin in 2025.
While we anticipate the next actions from Davis and the Lions, the seasoned corner utilized social media to assert that he will not accept any discounts and is prepared to assist in enhancing a defense if the compensation is appropriate.
Davis is certainly a game-changer, but he brings a significant worry. After enduring a broken jaw last season, Davis once more missed several games, a pattern he has followed in every season of his career.
If there’s one factor that could negatively impact his value on the open market, it’s that. Nonetheless, he ranks among the top cornerbacks on the free agency market this offseason, and he will undoubtedly attract significant attention and receive a good salary.
Spotrac predicts that Davis will earn approximately what he garnered with the Lions in 2024, estimating a three-year contract worth $13.8 million annually. However, it seems that Davis is seeking a salary increase, so he will probably desire more than that.
Considering they have two young cornerbacks expected to start, it would be logical for the Lions to acquire a seasoned cornerback. Nonetheless, if he seeks a considerable increase, it’s likely the Lions won’t be interested.
As per Dave Birkett from the Detroit Free Press, the Lions aim to allocate approximately $12 million each year for a seasoned cornerback. Davis will demand more than that, so his time in Detroit might be limited.