The Detroit Lions are in the market for a cornerback, but it appears that one of the top free agents at the position may be out of their price range. According to a report, cornerback Carlton Davis may be too pricey for the Lions.
Davis, who has spent the past four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is considered one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. He has started 50 games for the Buccaneers, recording 259 tackles, 55 passes defensed, and 4 interceptions.
The Lions are in need of a cornerback after releasing veteran Desmond Trufant earlier this offseason. They have been linked to several free agent cornerbacks, including Davis, but it appears that his price tag may be too high.
According to the report, Davis is seeking a contract worth around $15 million per year. While the Lions have the cap space to sign Davis, they may not be willing to commit that much money to a cornerback.
The Lions have been cautious in free agency under the leadership of General Manager Brad Holmes. They have focused on signing players to shorter, more team-friendly deals, rather than committing to long-term contracts with high price tags.
While Davis would certainly be an upgrade for the Lions’ secondary, it’s unclear if he would be worth the investment. The Lions may choose to explore other options at cornerback, such as signing a lower-priced free agent or drafting a cornerback in the first round.
The Lions’ secondary was a weakness last season, ranking 29th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. However, they have made some moves to address the position, signing safety Tracy Walker to a contract extension and adding cornerback Mike Hughes in free agency.
While the loss of Davis may be a blow to the Lions’ secondary, it’s not a devastating one. The team still has options to upgrade the position, and they may choose to explore those options rather than committing to a high-priced contract with Davis.