Notes: Carlton Davis could make biggest impact of traded players

The veteran corner may be as invaluable off the field as he is on the field.

In trading for Carlton Davis, the Detroit Lions secured one of the best players to make an impact in Detroit, according to one NFL writer.

NFL.com’s Tom Blair created a list of traded players who will contribute most to their new teams — not necessarily on an individual level, “but rather who has the chance to really change how things play out going forward.”

Coming in at No. 7 is none other than Davis, acquired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in mid-March in exchange for a 2024 third round pick. Tampa Bay also received sixth-round picks in 2024 and 2025.

The Bucs drafted Davis in the second round in 2018 and he was a starter right out the gate. Injuries limited him to 10 games in 2021, but he would bounce back the following year, earning a three-year extension worth $45 million with $30 million guaranteed.

“It’s true that he failed to reach double digits in passes defensed last season (nine) for the first time since 2018, and Pro Football Focus gave him the worst defensive grade (58.2) of his career. He also missed significant time with injury. But Davis is still just 27,” Blair writes.

It’s what the veteran corner can provide as a mentor that makes him particularly valuable.

“It wouldn’t be surprising if the self-described ‘lockdown corner’ helped rookies Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. boost a Lions pass defense that ranked 27th in 2023,” Blair said.

Arnold, in particular, already mentioned how thankful he was that Davis—a two-time Super Bowl champion, had already reached out to him.

“Happy we got guys like Carlton Davis,” Arnold said last week. “Just even him reaching out to me, and winning two Super Bowls, and coming in here and just being someone that can teach me how to be a pro.”

And onto the rest of your notes.

• Absolutely love this big reaction from Jared Goff’s extension from his teammate and friend Taylor Decker:

• Speaking of Goff, a reminder that he’s making history:

• PFF’s Zoltán Buday selects the most underrated player of each NFL team. For the Lions, it’s Alim McNeill, who he says might have been one of the most improved players of the 2023 season.

• Your weekly Jake Bates update: He made all three of his field goals, including a 51-yarder. By the way, your last chance to attend a playoff-bound Michigan Panthers game at Ford Field is this Saturday.

• Prior to the Goff extension news, Lions general manager Brad Holmes joined the Rich Eisen Show to talk about a variety of topics, including expectations for Jahmyr Gibbs in Year 2.