The Detroit LIons didn’t lose a lot from their roster this past offseason. But one of the key departures was cornerback Carlton Davis.
Davis was one of the top members in Detroit’s secondary last year after coming over in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the veteran held his own, allowing 43 catches for 583 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions and six pass breakups according to Pro Football Focus. While his season was cut short due to a broken jaw, it was still a key departure when he left to sign a three-year, $54 million contract with the New England Patriots this offseason.
The Lions replaced Davis by signing DJ Reed but there’s still a chance of another key departure with a destination of Foxborough. It could be one of the more surprising signings of the offseason but there’s a chance it could happen if he doesn’t reach a resolution soon.
Za’Darius Smith Could Be the Next Ex-Lion to Join Patriots
The Lions have escaped drama for most of the offseason but they haven’t been able to stop the rumors surrounding Za’Darius Smith. The 32-year-old arrived in Detroit at last year’s trade deadline after he publicly vouched to be traded as a member of the Cleveland Browns. He was also productive once he arrived, recording four sacks and 36 quarterback pressures in eight games to finish the season.
With a void across from the returning Aidan Hutchinson, it made sense for Smith to return to Detroit for another season. But the Lions scoffed at a $2 million roster bonus and used that money to re-sign oft-injured edge rusher Marcus Davenport to a one-year, $2.5 million.
The door hasn’t been closed on Smith’s return as he’s hung around the Detroit area since last season ended. But Smith has also indicated that money would be a key factor if he came back to the Lions, which checks out considering his past stops have ended with a financial dispute.
Smith left the Baltimore Ravens to sign a four-year, $66 million contract with the Green Bay Packers in 2019. While he broke out with 26 sacks over his first two seasons, a back injury and a demand for a new contract limited him to just one game in 2021. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings upon his release the following offseason and racked up 10 sacks in 2022. But another contract demand forced the Vikings to trade him to the Browns before the 2023 season.
Two seasons in Cleveland followed and Smith was eager to return to Detroit. But Smith also admitted that a key reason to join the Lions was the opportunity to play the Packers and the Vikings twice a year. He may also seem like Mr. Lion right now, but his loyalty has come down to dollars and cents, which could have him keep an eye out for a better opportunity.
No team has a better chance to pry Smith out of Detroit than the Patriots. New England came out of the Jerod Mayo era by spending $364.6 million in total money and $197.8 million in guaranteed money in free agency this offseason and still has $67.3 million to make another addition before next season.
One of those signings was former Tennessee Titans edge rusher Harold Landry to a three-year, $45 million contract. But the Patriots could use another pass-rusher on the opposite side as starter Anfernee Jennings had just 2.5 sacks and 31 pressures on 348 pass-rushing snaps last season.
In all likelihood, Smith’s most likely destination remains the Lions. But his past suggests that his time with teams relate more to shotgun weddings than long-term relationships. Smith will likely go where the money is and he could join Davis in New England if the price is right.