The Detroit Lions could part ways with starting cornerback Carlton Davis this offseason, as the seasoned player is among the leading defensive athletes approaching free agency and will attract numerous teams competing for his talents.
If general manager Brad Holmes is unable to keep Davis, Pro Football Network’s Sterling Xie forecasts that the Lions will acquire Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs to be the starting corner opposite Terrion Arnold.
“Carlton Davis enjoyed a productive season with the Detroit Lions but may become too expensive for them in free agency.” Although the Lions selected Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw last year, depending on two second-year cornerbacks to succeed as full-time starters is risky for a team with Super Bowl aspirations,” Xie stated.
“If the Lions think outside the box, they might bring in a player who has demonstrated success in a defense that heavily relies on man coverage.” The Lions are strong, boasting more than $52 million in salary cap space. Should the market for Davis expand significantly, Diggs will remain under contract for three additional seasons with a reasonable $9 million cap hit in 2025. He would probably carry a significant cost in compensation (likely involving the Lions’ second-round pick), but the years of team control for a 26-year-old cornerback might justify it,” Xie stated.
diggs has faced injury challenges over the past two seasons, as the veteran participated in only two games in 2023 because of a torn acl and 11 games in 2024 due to a problem with his left knee. the two-time pro bowler recorded two interceptions and deflected 11 passes while having an 89.3 passer rating when targeted last season.
although diggs has not played much lately, the 26-year-old is an excellent player when active and would be a fascinating enhancement to detroit’s defense
diggs would quickly take on the role of a starter in kelvin sheppard’s defense and might regain his all-pro status with a new environment. while his hefty $97 million contract might appear to be a terrible agreement, diggs’ cap impact in 2025 is only $12.6 million, and there is no remaining guaranteed money on his contract, which will end after the 2028 season
acquiring diggs shouldn’t require a significant cost, as a late day 2 or early day 3 selection should suffice to bring the star defensive back to the motor city
that being noted, there are certain risks associated with trading for diggs. his record of injuries is highly worrisome, and he is anticipated to be absent from the beginning of training camp next season while he recuperates from knee surgery
since 2022, trevon diggs has had difficulty remaining on the field, yet the ex-second-round selection ranks among the most formidable defensive players in football when performing at his peak. if the cowboys decide to part ways with him this offseason, the lions should consider bringing diggs into their young secondary
. . . . . ondary.