Carlton Davis III. Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Lions address massive need via trade with Buccaneers

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 3/11/24

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes zigged while the rest of the NFL world was zagging.

While news broke that free agent after free agent was being signed to new deals, Holmes looked to the trade block to plug one of his team's biggest offseason holes.

Per Adam Schefter, the Lions executed a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to bring cornerback Carlton Davis III to Detroit.

Trade:

Lions receive: CB Carlton Davis, Buccaneers 2024 6th-round pick and a 2025 6th-round pick.

Buccaneers receive: Lions 2024 third-round pick.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024

As mentioned by Schefter, Davis and two picks head to Detroit while the Buccaneers receive a 2024 third-round pick from the Lions.

From Detroit's perspective, that third-round pick will be easily forgotten.

Davis, 28, notched 52 tackles (40 solo) two interceptions and nine pass breakups for the Buccaneers last season. He's not CB1 material, but he absolutely will help a defensive unit that gave up 7.8 yards per pass attempt last season, which was second-worst in the NFL.

The one downside for Detroit? Since being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Davis has only played in 76 games. He's missed 16 over the last three years due to injury, so health concerns may be the one red flag to keep an eye on.

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