Carlton Davis Opens Up on Lions Exit: “It Was the Language in the Deal”
When the Detroit Lions traded a third-round pick for Carlton Davis in 2024, it looked like the start of a long-term relationship. Davis brought veteran savvy and stability to a secondary that needed both, and he delivered a solid season in Detroit.
That’s why it raised some eyebrows this offseason when the Lions chose not to re-sign him. But as Davis revealed this week, it wasn’t for lack of trying on either side.
Speaking during Super Bowl week, Davis explained that the split came down to contract structure-not salary, not fit, not locker room dynamics. Just the fine print.
“It was just the terms of the deal, which… I’m just going to keep undisclosed,” Davis said. “It was like the language inside of it that I wasn’t really fond of. So that was really it, for sure.”
That lines up with what’s been reported: the Lions did make a push to keep Davis, but the two sides couldn’t get aligned on how the deal was structured. According to a follow-up report, money wasn’t the sticking point-it was the details in the contract language that ultimately kept Davis from returning to Detroit.
Instead, Davis signed a three-year, $54 million deal with the New England Patriots, $34.5 million of which is guaranteed. The Lions quickly pivoted to another veteran corner, landing D.J. Reed on a three-year, $48 million deal with $32 million guaranteed.
So far, the move has worked out for Davis, who’s now chasing his second Super Bowl ring after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy with Tampa Bay five years ago. Reed’s first year in Detroit, meanwhile, was more turbulent. A hamstring injury sidelined him for six games, and though he showed flashes, he never quite found his groove in Aaron Glenn’s defense.
Still, despite the way things played out, Davis made it clear there’s no bad blood between him and the Lions organization. In fact, he still holds a lot of respect for the front office and coaching staff.
“I love Detroit,” Davis said. “Before the season started, I was rooting for those guys as far as like them making it back to the playoffs.
I still got a lot of close relationships with the team. Even like how it went with free agency with us and Brad and Dan, it was like a straight-up process.
It wasn’t no bullshit around it. It was good conversation, good communication, so I got nothing bad to say about them.”
That kind of mutual respect is rare in today’s NFL, where contract negotiations can often get messy or personal. Davis’ comments reflect a professional parting of ways-two sides that wanted to make it work but couldn’t quite get over the finish line. And now, both are moving forward: Davis with a chance to add another ring, and the Lions hoping Reed can bounce back and become the shutdown presence they envisioned.
In the end, this wasn’t about money or motivation-it was about fit. And sometimes, even when the football makes sense, the paperwork doesn’t.