Lions News

[froot loops]

image.png

Carlton Davis career stats...he had 7 tackles in the playoff game maybe the Lions like that about him?

I don't think that's the reason, he's a good cover guy. He's not known for being a physical run stopper, may e that explains the PFF grade. He was the guy who got flattened by Craig Reynolds.

[froot loops]

[wcfwtf]

I’m going with
”their football players” 😂

[NewOrleansLion]

I watched a lot of Saints games while Davenport was there. Which means I watched a lot of Saints games without Davenport playing. Injured a lot and never struck me as the high motor guy Campbell and Holmes love.

[Blue Lagoon58]

Fat not liking it is a plus.

[El Axe]

Here's what I'm thinking Holmes is thinking:

There are maybe one or two high-end rookie CBs that might come in and upgrade that position for day 1, but to get them would cost at least a 1st and a 3rd to move up in the draft to get them -- and being rookies are still question marks for immediate help. However, there are quite a few very talented but need development CBs in the draft that can be future CB1s available a little later. We use our late 3rd to get Davis, who is an upgrade and allows us to compete right away for our current window. We then use a later pick (probably day 2) on a long-term solution at CB1.

edit: Max Melton, TJ Tampa and Khyree Jackson are 3 that come to mind, all should be available day 2, but have high end athleticism. There are quite a few others that are also very well considered. It really is loaded in day 2 prospects. Also, these guys may very well be much better CBs long term than the guys who are a little more ready right now. Think Darius Slay.

This then also allows us to use our 1st rounder on OL for someone who can immediately come in and replace Jonah Jackson. Again, the draft has a lot of good candidates right around that pick 29.

edit: JPJ, Barton, Frazier, Morgan & Suamataia all are projected as high-end day-1 starting guards at pick 29 -- and can play either Center or Tackle long term as well.

I think Holmes' FA strategy is shaped by the players that will be available to him in the draft.

[El Axe]

Oh, and I love that Holmes got the 6th round picks. They aren't worth much on a trade value chart, but in Holmes' hands they can turn into NFL depth.

[JGSpartan]

I think the strategy is the same as it has been. Try to fill needs with competent players in free agency rather than overpaying for stars. I'd not be surprised to see a second guard signing and probably a nose tackle.

There's been a lot of articles about the Lions showing serious interest in DJ Reader. That would be a very good get.

[jaadam4]

Readers would be a huge get right now.

I know absolutely nothing about Carlton Davis besides getting blown up by Netflix (still my fav play of the entire year). Our 3rd rounder is more like a 4th but I’d still rather have had Sneed and a pricy contract or the upside of Newsome. Either way Holmes is a bad mofo so he has a ton of credit banked.

If he and MCDC liked the deal then so do I. I’m sure this means they couldn’t just sign the guys they wanted or the price was too much.

I love the Davenport contract. That’s a really nice signing. He has a history with Glenn when he had a monster contract year in NOLA. Hell that’s really all we need out of him. I’d have preferred Chase Young but Davenport is an excellent signing.

[JGSpartan]

Davenport is a good player when healthy unfortunately it's not been often. Has yet to play a full season. He's played in 13,13,11,11,15 and 4 games in his first six seasons. No long term risk for the team though so that's good.

[jaadam4]

Ja'Marr Chase had some strong words about Charlton, maybe Holmes and MCDC are onto something

https://bengalswire.usatoday.com/2023/11/04/jamarr-chase-reveals-toughest-cb-faced-unexpected-name/

When one thinks about the toughest cornerbacks Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has faced so far in the pros, the mind usually wanders to names like Denzel Ward and Jalen Ramsey (and probably Joey Porter Jr. soon enough).

But asked about the topic by former NFL defensive back Devin McCourty, Chase brought up an expected name — Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Carlton Davis.

Chase said the following: “For me, I’d say Carlton Davis. Only reason I say Carlton Davis is because he longer than I expected, longer arms, and he ain’t got no knee bend — he just hunched his back over and played defense. I think I’ve played him twice, too, and he made some good plays on me, so I ain’t never gonna forget that one.”

Maybe Davis isn’t the biggest name out there, but Bengals fans surely remember him giving Chase problems in Week 15 last season during a 34-23 Cincinnati road win.

In that matchup, Chase caught just seven of his 13 targets for 60 yards and a score and Davis wasn’t in coverage on the touchdown. Joe Burrow threw four scores on the day but was forced away from Chase, mostly due to Davis.

If nothing else, it speaks to Chase’s ability to give props outsiders wouldn’t expect and Davis’ ability to make sure one of the game’s best hits the interview circuit like this.

[Mainevent]

From ESPN:
Lions trade with Buccaneers for CB Carlton Davis III


Lions get: Davis, 2024 sixth-round pick, 2025 sixth-round pick
Buccaneers get: 2024 third-round pick

Lions' grade: B-
Buccaneers' grade: B

Acquiring a previously great cornerback at a low cost tends to be pretty good business. The position is so volatile from year to year that players can ascend and descend without warning, so sometimes the thing to do is bet on the player you know can be a No. 1 cornerback and hope the variance swings in your direction.

That's what the Lions are doing here with Davis, off a season in which he had some rough numbers, allowing 1.9 yards per coverage snap (average for an outside CB is 1.2) and plus-19 EPA, per NFL Next Gen Stats. It's a far cry from what he posted in 2021, when he allowed 0.9 yards per coverage snap and minus-9 EPA (negative is good for a defensive back).

The downside is that by sending a third-round pick to pay Davis $14 million on a one-year deal Detroit is not buying that low, however. Consider: a year ago the Dolphins traded a third-round pick for Jalen Ramsey, who was making roughly the same amount of money -- the Lions will owe Davis $14 million in 2024 -- with an extra year of guarantees ... but Ramsey is a better player.

On the other hand: the Lions received two sixth-round picks back and that actually, according to our draft pick valuations, brings the compensation down to something like a late-fourth-round pick (the third-round selection they are sending is already later in the round at No. 92 overall).

But it's clear that the Lions had to make moves to upgrade their secondary. They tried a year ago but to no avail -- injuries derailed C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Emmanuel Moseley's seasons and Cameron Sutton wasn't great -- allowing 1.4 yards per coverage snap and plus-18 EPA. The Lions allowed 0.08 EPA per play -- fifth-worst among all teams and a significant weakness to their title hopes. They had to do something.

The Bucs invested in Jamel Dean last offseason and are now very much choosing Dean over Davis -- a move I would agree with. By taking Davis' $14 million off the books the team can invest those resources elsewhere, either this season or beyond, which seems wise given his lower level of play.

Despite how their season finished the Bucs aren't actually contenders and recognize that it makes less sense for them to gamble on the final year of Davis' contract than it does the Lions. Instead, they grab a draft resource that can has the upside of paying dividends for years. -- Walder

[Cody_Russell]

Carlton Davis is going to be a big upgrade over Jacobs, Vildor, Harris, and Dorsey. From egregious hole on the roster to competent starter. Good job for addressing it.

I remember our draft debates about Marcus Davenport. Many people thought he was in play for the Lions pick that turned into Ragnow. Saints surprisingly traded two 1sts for Davenport’s raw potential at the time. No pass rush moves in college, all bull rush. It’s going to be all about luck and managing to stay healthy with this signing. Similar thoughts about late career Ziggy Ansah.

[jaadam4]

Carlton Davis is going to be a big upgrade over Jacobs, Vildor, Harris, and Dorsey. From egregious hole on the roster to competent starter. Good job for addressing it.

I remember our draft debates about Marcus Davenport. Many people thought he was in play for the Lions pick that turned into Ragnow. Saints surprisingly traded two 1sts for Davenport’s raw potential at the time. No pass rush moves in college, all bull rush. It’s going to be all about luck and managing to stay healthy with this signing. Similar thoughts about late career Ziggy Ansah.

Davenport on a 1 year heavy incentive based is a really solid deal. I remember those debates as he def looked like he could be Tarzan. It’s a solid signing

[jaadam4]

I would have killed to have gotten Hunter but I know his price tag is through the roof