The Bucs have traded cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Detroit Lions, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Bucs get a 2024 third round pick while Detroit also receives a sixth round pick in 2024 and 2025.  As free agency ramps up this offseason, the Bucs have made a major shift in their cornerback room by moving on from their Super Bowl champion corner.

Why Carlton Davis Was Traded

Carlton Davis played in 12 games for the Bucs last season, recording 52 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions. While still a very good cover corner, the injuries continued to pile up and he was often in and out of the lineup. Davis struggled to take the ball away as of late, having just four interceptions over the last three seasons.

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III – Photo by: USA Today

He had many opportunities to take the ball away, but often times dropped it. The combination of missing time and not picking the ball off along with the growth of Zyon McCollum pushed the Bucs to move on from him.

Davis was originally drafted by Tampa Bay in the second round out of Auburn in 2018. He quickly ascended to become the Bucs’ top cover corner by his sophomore season and was a key part of the Bucs’ “Gravediggers” secondary that helped the team win a Super Bowl in the 2020-2021 season. The Bucs rewarded Davis for his excellent play with a new three-year, $44.5 million contract following the 2021 season.

Despite his usual solid coverage abilities, Davis had some warts that did frustrate fans. During the Bucs first meeting with Kansas City during their super bowl run, Davis was the primary corner in coverage against receiver Tyreek Hill. Davis’ lack of top-end speed was exposed by Hill as Hill caught all nine of his targets with Davis in coverage for 211 yards and three touchdowns.

In addition to the lack of speed, Davis struggled to hold on to balls when he got his hands on them. Over six seasons Davis was only able to haul in nine interceptions despite logging 73 passes defensed.

Despite his flaws with turnovers, Davis is still one of the better cover corners in the NFL. His 2022 performance against Ja’Marr Chase is an all-timer and he was very good late in the 2023 season and into the playoffs.

But injuries have taken a toll as he has failed to reach 900 snaps in any of the last three seasons and when he is on the field Davis’ play looks to be diminished slightly due to all of the wear and tear he has endured. And with Zyon McCollum taking several strides forward in his second year the team has decided Davis is a luxury they don’t necessarily need.

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III and Saints WR Michael Thomas – Photo by: USA Today

Bucs Save Cap Space By Cutting Carlton Davis III

With Carlton Davis III’s departure Tampa Bay is freeing up valuable cap space. Due to count for over $20 million against the 2024 salary cap, over $14 million of that was not guaranteed. Now accounting for the acceleration of prorated dead money from void years the team tacked onto his deal, the Bucs are still going to save $6,300,941 off of Davis’ cap number.

Over his six-year career in Tampa Bay Davis accumulated 324 tackles, 12 for a loss, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 73 passes defensed and nine interceptions while allowing just 1.16 yards per route run and a 58.2% completion rate when targeted.

Davis should always be remembered as an important part of the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV winning team from the 2020 team. The Bucs will play the Lions on the road coming up this season.