Jameson Williams and Carlton Davis are already living “iron sharpens iron.”
Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis is no stranger to going against talented receivers in practice. The former Buccaneers corner has lined up opposite Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on a daily basis over his entire six-year NFL career.
It’s only been three days of Organized Team Activities with the Lions, but Davis has already come away impressed by third-year receiver Jameson Williams.
“He has a bright future, I love going up against him,” Davis said last week. “He has so many tools in his toolbox, man. He can beat you running fast, he can snap down, he’s a threat in a lot of different ways. When you’re going up against a guy like that every day, you have no choice but to get better.”
That’s the hidden benefit of being an extremely talented team. Not only do you have a shot at a championship, but every day, you’re going against the best of the best, sharpening your own toolbox. And for a player like Williams—who has yet to see his true NFL breakout performance—going against Davis day after day has its benefits.
Davis is a particularly good challenge for Williams. There’s little doubt he can beat just about any cornerback in a footrace, but at just 180 pounds, Williams could struggle against more physical defenders who will challenge him at the line of scrimmage. And, no surprise, that’s one of the first things Williams noticed about Davis.
“Every single time, it’s been good work,” Williams said. “He’s real good on the press. I really haven’t gotten any good press—nobody likes to press—but when he presses, it’s real good work. Even his feet, how he plays, everything, his patience and the way he plays the game, it’s good. I like going against him.”
And while Davis is expected offer some much-needed help against opponents’ top receiving options, he’s also welcoming his role as a leader. As one of the older players in an extremely young secondary, Davis knows part of the reason the Lions went out and traded for him is to make everyone around him better—including Williams.
“That’s what I’m here to do. I’m here to make him one of the best receivers in the league, man,” Davis said. “That’s my goal. And that’s for everybody I go up against on our team. I’m gonna push them, they’re gonna push me back, and that’s the competitive spirit that I’ve been talking about.”