March 11 may have been the first day of negotiations with unrestricted free agents. However, the Detroit Lions used the trade method to improve their squad with veteran cornerback Carlton Davis.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Lions acquired Davis from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions will also receive a 2024 and 2025 sixth-round picks in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick.
Davis, a former second-round pick, played six seasons with the Buccaneers. In 12 games in 2023, he made 52 total tackles, nine pass defenses, and two interceptions.
Davis’s finest statistical season occurred in 2020, when the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl. Davis recorded a career-high 68 total tackles and four interceptions in 14 starts against 18 pass defenses that season.
On March 11, social media reactions to the Lions’ trade for Davis were mainly positive.
“A significant move for the Lions,” commented FaDDe on X (previously Twitter).
NFL experts felt that Davis is a valuable addition to the Lions’ roster. Colton Pouncy of The Athletic praised Davis’ ability to cover man-to-man.
“No TDs allowed in man,” Pouncy wrote.
