Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade cornerback Carlton Davis to Detroit Lions

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are sending cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Detroit Lions in exchange for an early draft pick.

On Monday, ESPN’s Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter announced the trade on X, formerly known as Twitter. According to Schefter, the Lions will receive Davis III, the Bucs 2020 sixth-round pick, and a 2025 sixth-round pick.

In return, the Bucs will receive the Lions 2024 third-round pick.

The 27-year-old veteran is owed a base salary of $14 million this season with nothing guaranteed, according to NBC Sports.

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He joined the Buccaneers in 2018 after being drafted in the second round. Following his rookie contract, he signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the team. Throughout his six seasons with Tampa Bay, he recorded nine interceptions and 73 pass breakups.

Tampa’s decision comes after the team retained its core free agency players — star wide receiver Mike Evans, quarterback Baker Mayfield, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Evans reached a two-year, $52 million deal with the Buccaneers, while Mayfield agreed to a three-year, $50 million contract. The team placed a $17.1 million franchise tag on Winfield Jr. as a placeholder while he and the team continued long-term negotiations.

The unofficial negotiation process for NFL free agents will begin on March 13, 2024, with the new league year officially kicking off on March 15 at 4 p.m. According to OverTheCap.com, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to have $14,798,670 unofficially in cap space this year.

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