Lions find defensive help, trade for CB Davis, agree to sign rusher Davenport

The Detroit Lions didn't dive head-first into free agency when the negotiating window opened Monday at noon. While other teams, including some in the NFC North Division, splurged early, the Lions slowly waded into the waters Monday afternoon, before securing their first outside acquisition, edge rusher Marcus Davenport.

Minutes later, the team made a trade for Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis III, addressing two of the team's top roster needs before the day was done. Both deals were confirmed by a league source.

According to multiple reports, the Lions are sending the Buccaneers the latter of their two third-round picks this year, No. 92 overall, in exchange for Davis and sixth-round selections this year and next. The Lions will take on the final year of the contract Davis signed in 2022, which carries a $14.3 million cap hit. That figure could be significantly lowered if the team agrees to an extension with the 27-year-old, six-year veteran in the coming weeks.

A second-round pick in 2018, Davis has played his entire career with the Buccaneers, starting 75 games for the franchise. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder is coming off a season where he allowed 63.3% of the passes thrown his direction to be completed while defending nine throws and intercepting two. For his career, he has nine interceptions.

With Davenport, the NFL Network is reporting the agreement is for one year. Signings can be made official starting Wednesday afternoon.

The Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, the 6-foot-6, 265-pounder surged up draft boards ahead of the 2018 draft on the back of that strong senior season at UTSA and impressive athletic testing at the league's scouting combine. The New Orleans Saints gave up a pair of first-round picks to move up 13 spots to take him No. 14 overall.

Davenport went on to play five seasons for the Saints, but never quite lived up to the cost the franchise paid to acquire him, peaking with 9.0 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2021. He signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings last offseason, but appeared in just four games after suffering a high-ankle sprain early in the season.

In Detroit, Davenport will be reunited with Lions head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who were both in New Orleans during the defender's first three seasons. The team will add him to an edge-rushing mix that's being retooled following the expiration of Charles Harris and Romeo Okwara's contracts. That unit is led by Aidan Hutchinson.

The team is also slated to return versatile linemen Josh Paschal and John Cominsky, as well as James Houston, who missed most of the 2023 season due to a broken ankle. Earlier this offseason, the Lions also added the reigning CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Mathieu Betts, who had 18.0 sacks for the B.C. Lions. in 2023.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

@Justin_Rogers