We are officially in the month of March, and the NFL news is going to start picking up. Free agency is set to open up next week, with the legal tampering period beginning on March 10 at Noon EST.
Teams will be able to start negotiating with free agents as they seek to find upgrades to the roster. The Detroit Lions have a couple of key players hitting the open market, including cornerback Carlton Davis.
Early reports ahead of free agency are making it apparent that the Lions could have a hard time bringing Davis back for another stint in Detroit.
Jaguars Will Be Interested in Carlton Davis
Ahead of free agency, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler revealed that the Jacksonville Jaguars are a team that will express interest in Davis. He wrote, "And the Jaguars will gauge the market of veteran corner Carlton Davis III, another third-contract guy."
The Jags are a team that has been very active on the free-agent market and isn't afraid to give out massive contracts. Over the past couple of years, they paid Arik Armstead, Gabe Davis, Christian Kirk, and Foyesade Oluokun contracts on the open market that have exceeded double-digit in terms of AAV.
With them looking to improve their secondary, Davis is someone who has caught their attention. He spent one season with the Lions after being acquired via trade last off-season. Davis was steady and reliable when he took the field for Detroit.
In 13 games during the 2024 season, Davis racked up 56 total tackles, 11 pass breakups, and two interceptions. According to PFF, he finished with a 74.5 overall grade (29th among 223 eligible corners), a 77.7 run-defense grade (26th among 223 eligible corners), and a 72.1 coverage grade (38th among 223 eligible corners).
Per Spotrac, Davis' estimated market value is listed at $13.8 million per year. The Lions have the 11th most available cap space ($52 million) and have the funds to re-sign Davis if they would like. Whether or not Jacksonville offers a more lucrative deal remains to be seen, but he will have multiple suitors on the open market.