The Detroit Lions entered the offseason in need of upgrades to the cornerbacks room, and general manager Brad Holmes did that in a big way, with one of his moves being the trade for veteran Carlton Davis, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a third-round pick.
But Davis doesn't come without some concerns, though. Not only is he coming off a down season in terms of his coverage numbers, he also has an injury history that has led to him never playing a full season during his career.
As a result of those concerns, Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer named Davis to his "All-Overpaid Team" for 2024. Here's what he wrote:
The Lions didn't make their veteran corner spending work last season, so they got aggressive again, trading for the former Buccaneer. However, he's been shaky with durability issues of late, and there's a good chance rookie first-round Terrion Arnold will be their better starter.
According to Over the Cap, Davis is making $14.8 million per year on his current contract, which he signed with his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Lions restructured the deal after acquiring him, which lowered his cap hit to $9.8 million after converting $6 million of his salary to a signing bonus.
The annual average places Davis, who is in the final year of his deal, ninth among cornerbacks, per Over the Cap, and the gap between him and the players in front of him is $4 million per year and up, putting him in the second tier on that list.
When you consider his numbers from last season (61.4% completion rate and 96.1 passer rating allowed) and injury history, you could make the argument that he is overpaid, but it's not like it's egregious by any stretch.
All that said, it's understandable why the Lions made the move they did. Detroit desperately needed an upgrade in the secondary, and Davis provides that when compared to Cameron Sutton.
He's also a good scheme fit, and Davis brings a wealth of experience (and a Super Bowl ring) to a young cornerbacks room, which is crucial for a team like the Lions that has Super Bowl aspirations.
Carlton Davis in Man coverage last year (per PFF):
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) March 11, 2024
-60% completion percentage allowed
-No TDs allowed in man
-75.1 passer rating when targeted
-68.8 PFF grade
It's true that Terrion Arnold could end up being better than Davis, as Iyer states, but that is no guarantee in Year 1. And, if that does turn out to be the case, having Davis as a No. 2 would be a great position to be in.
Whatever the case may be, Davis remains a welcomed addition that Detroit can part ways with next offseason if things go south in 2024.
