Detroit Lions veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III recently shared his admiration for head coach Dan Campbell, praising his leadership style and ability to connect with players on a personal level. Davis’s comments have sparked optimism among Lions fans, who hope that the team will re-sign him when the new league year begins next month.
Davis, who joined the Lions last offseason in a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spoke highly of Campbell’s approach to coaching and his willingness to take accountability in the locker room. He also highlighted Campbell’s ability to praise players for their achievements, both individually and in front of the team.
“Dan, he’s the type to talk to you damn near every day: at practice, just walking through the locker room,” Davis said. “He’ll literally sit me down like—he done did this a couple times during the season (where) I had a good game, and he’d come up to me like, ‘Boy, you’re playing your ass off.’ He’ll just say that to you. After the game like, ‘Boy, you’re more than just a cover corner. You’re physical, too!’ And he’ll say that in front of the whole team.”
Davis’s positive experience with Campbell and the Lions has led many to believe that he will return to the team next season. The Lions have approximately $51.8 million in cap space, which should be enough to re-sign Davis and make other moves to strengthen the team.
If the Lions can re-sign Davis, they will have a formidable cornerback duo with Davis and Terrion Arnold. Davis played at a Pro Bowl-caliber level on the boundary before suffering a season-ending jaw injury in Week 15. He had 56 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions.
Campbell’s bold comments about Davis, praising his physicality and coverage skills, hint at a shocking offseason move. It appears that the Lions are committed to bringing back Davis and building a strong secondary around him. With Davis and Arnold patrolling the cornerback positions, the Lions’ defense could be one of the most improved units in the NFL next season.
