Carlton Davis trade grades: Who won the Buccaneers and Lions deal?
The Detroit Lions acquired a new starter for their defense on Monday as the team traded a 2024 third-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for cornerback Carlton Davis, per multiple reports.
Davis was a member of the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl team and has played at a high level for Tampa Bay in his six seasons with the franchise.
The Lions weren't afraid to send a higher draft pick to the Bucs to secure Davis for their defense, as he should step in right away as the team's best cornerback.
Let's break down this trade to see how it went for both Tampa Bay and Detroit.
Trade details
Per Adam Schefter, here are the trade details.
Detroit receives: CB Carlton Davis, 2024 sixth-round pick, 2025 sixth-round pick
Tampa Bay receives: 2024 third-round pick
Detroit Lions
The Lions are in win-now mode, and they desperately needed a top cornerback. Davis will fill that role, even if injuries have followed him throughout his career. He's missed games in all six of his NFL seasons, so Detroit might not be able to count on him for a fully healthy season.
He played in 12 contests in 2023, totaling 40 tackles and two picks. He's still a quality starter on the outside, and he'll be paid like one with a roughly $14 million cap hit this season. That's not bad money for a starting corner in the NFL, and having Emmanuel Moseley as a key depth piece will help if Davis misses any time.
Giving up a third-round pick isn't that big of a deal for a defensive starter, and Detroit will gain from having Davis on the roster this season. It's a solid move for a team that filled a huge need with a Super Bowl winner who can further the Lions' own championship goals. You just wonder about the injury history.
Grade: B
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With 2023 undrafted cornerback Christian Izien set to take on a bigger role on the Bucs defense, Davis became expendable. Being able to get a third-round pick and his contract off the books is a big win for Tampa Bay, who had a replacement already in the building.
After signing cornerback Jamel Dean to a new contract last season, the Bucs needed to move money around to help re-sign quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans and put the franchise tag on safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Tackle Tristan Wirfs is also up for an extension.
It just made too much sense from a roster and financial perspective to get this done, as Davis finds a really nice landing spot and the Bucs get a nice draft pick in the process.
Grade: A