The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly trading a longtime defensive starter.
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero , the Buccaneers are sending cornerback Carlton Davis to the Detroit Lions. Tampa Bay will receive Detroit’s 2024 third-round pick (No. 92 overall) for Davis, a sixth-round pick this year, and a 2025 sixth.
Davis has started 75 of 76 games played over six seasons with the Buccaneers. The former second-round selection recorded 52 tackles and two interceptions in a dozen starts last season before defending two passes in a first-round playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, Pro Football Focus gave Davis the worst grade (58.2) of his NFL career. He allowed a 107.4 passer rating and 15.2 yards per catch in coverage.
The 27-year-old is set to make $14 million in the final year of his contract. Trading Davis could amount to a salary dump for a Buccaneers organization that doled out lucrative deals to retain quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans.
Meanwhile, the Lions will hope to improve their biggest weakness from a breakout season that ended in the NFC Championship Game.
Only the Chicago Bears yielded fewer rushing yards last season, but the Lions ranked 27th in passing defense. Before suffering a second-half collapse to the San Francisco 49ers, they survived an NFC Divisional Round scare to the Buccaneers despite surrendering 349 yards and three touchdowns to Mayfield.
The Lions also signed defensive end Marcus Davenport. But their secondary could lose free-agent cornerback Jerry Jacobs and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.