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Carlton Davis leaving Lions to sign contract with New England Patriots in free agency
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- Carlton Davis leaving Lions to sign contract with New England Patriots in free agency
For the second straight year, the Detroit Lions are in the market for help at defensive back.
Carlton Davis III , the Lions' top cornerback last season, reportedly agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with the New England Patriots , according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
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ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting the deal carries $34.5 million in guarantees.
The Lions are closing in on a deal to sign New York Jets starting cornerback D.J. Reed to replace Davis.
Davis will join Terrell Williams in New England , who left the Lions to become the Pats' defensive coordinator this offseason. Williams was the Lions' defensive line coach.
Davis had two interceptions in 13 games for the Lions last season and was the team's most consistent cover man before breaking his jaw in a December loss to the Buffalo Bills .
He missed the final three games of the regular season and the Lions' divisional round playoff loss to the Washington Commanders .
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) makes a catch against Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) during the Thursday Night Football at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.
Davis, acquired in an offseason trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last spring, said on multiple occasions last fall he was open to an extension with the Lions, but made a cryptic post on social media last week that indicated he planned to test the free agent market.
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"I won't make the same mistake twice," Davis wrote on X. "If you want your defense upgraded yall know who to pay .Turn on the Tape !"
PRIORITIES: Ranking Detroit Lions needs and identifying potential targets entering NFL free agency
In 2022, Davis signed a three-year, $45 million extension to stay with the Bucs rather than test free agency.
The Lions, who re-signed pending free agents linebacker Derrick Barnes and defensive lineman Marcus Davenport before the start of the negotiating period Monday, overhauled their secondary last spring, trading for Davis , signing Amik Robertson in free agency and taking Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. with their first two draft picks.
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Arnold started 15 games as a rookie, but finished with zero interceptions and was one of the most penalized players in the NFL. Rakestraw played sparingly as a rookie because of injuries. And Robertson played well while splitting his time between slot and outside cornerback, but broke his arm in the Commanders game.
Starting safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch remain under contract, but No. 3 safety Ifeatu Melifonwu is a free agent and expected to sign elsewhere. Branch can play both the slot and safety positions, Robertson has inside-out flexibility at cornerback, and Rakestraw spent most of his practice time last year in the slot.
The Lions, who have had initial talks with Joseph about a new contract, entered free agency with about $45 million in available cap room . They are expected to use some of that on Reed, when the new league year officially opens Wednesday after 4 p.m.
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline," at 7 p.m., March 24, at the Birmingham Public Library. Order your copy here . Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky , X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Carlton Davis contract with Patriots: CB leaves Lions in free agency
