It sounds like Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis may have a robust market if he hits free agency.
NFL free agency will open up with the tampering period on March 10 at 12 p.m. ET. That leaves teams just one week to re-sign their pending free agents before those players’ agents can start negotiating with other teams. For the Detroit Lions , their biggest free agent to re-sign is cornerback Carlton Davis, and it appears the Lions will have some competition in the market if they let him test free agency.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to keep a close eye on Davis if he’s still available when free agency opens next week.
“The Jaguars will gauge the market of veteran corner Carlton Davis III , another third-contract guy,” Fowler wrote this week.
At this point, it’s unclear if the Lions will be able to come to an agreement with Davis before next week, but we do know there’s interest from both sides. Coach Dan Campbell said throughout the season that Davis—whom the Lions acquired via a trade last season—was everything Detroit was hoping for when they acquired him.
“I (told him), ‘Man, one of the best moves we made was acquiring you, getting you here,’” Campbell recalled back in November. “And there is nothing better than a cover corner who runs, hits, tackles, fills the run, no fear.”
Davis, too, has recently expressed his appreciation for Detroit. On a podcast this offseason, he explained why Campbell is the best head coach he’s ever played for.
“He literally sat me down like—he done did this a couple times during the season (where) I had a good game, and he’d come up to me like, ‘Boy, you’re playing your ass off,’” Davis said. “He’ll just say that to you. After the game, like, ‘Boy, you’re more than just a cover corner. You’re physical, too!’ And he’ll say that in front of the whole team. He’ll praise you in front of the whole team. That’s the first time a coach has ever did that.”
Last year, Davis started 13 games for the Lions, tallied 11 passes defended, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and 56 tackles.