Carlton Davis Explains What Really Derailed His Return to Detroit

When Carlton Davis hit free agency last spring, his first choice wasn’t a mystery.

He wanted to stay in Detroit.

After arriving in a 2024 trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and immediately stepping in as the Detroit Lions’ top cornerback, Davis believed there was a real path toward continuing what he started in Honolulu blue. The interest was mutual, until it wasn’t.

In the end, it wasn’t money that pushed Davis out of Detroit. It was the fine print.

Why Talks With Detroit Fell Apart

Davis acknowledged that negotiations with the Lions ultimately stalled over how the contract was structured, not the overall value or vision.

“It was just the terms of the deal,” Davis said via the Detroit Free Press. “I’m just going to keep [the specifics] undisclosed. It was like the language inside of it that I wasn’t really fond of. So that was really it for sure.”

Rather than force something that didn’t feel right, Davis moved on. He eventually signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the New England Patriots, with $34.5 million guaranteed over the first two seasons.

Detroit, meanwhile, pivoted quickly.

Lions Move Forward With D.J. Reed

To fill the void, the Lions signed D.J. Reed to a three-year, $48 million deal, including $32 million guaranteed in the first two seasons. The move fit Detroit’s long-term cap plan and allowed the team to maintain flexibility while still securing a proven starter on the outside.

It was a classic case of two sides valuing different details — and choosing different paths.

No Hard Feelings Toward Detroit

Despite leaving, Davis made it clear there’s no bitterness toward the organization.

In fact, he still speaks highly of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes, praising how the Lions handled the process from start to finish.

“I love Detroit,” Davis said. “Before the season started, I was rooting for those guys as far as them making it back to the playoffs. I still got a lot of close relationships with the team.”

Davis emphasized that free agency discussions were direct, honest, and respectful — something not every player gets to say.

“Even how it went with free agency with us and Brad and Dan, it was a straight-up process,” he said. “It wasn’t no bullshit around it. It was good conversation, good communication, so I got nothing bad to say about them.”

Respect Goes Both Ways

Davis still keeps tabs on the Lions and remains a fan of what they’re building. From his perspective, the breakup wasn’t about loyalty or fit — it was about aligning on details that ultimately didn’t match.

Those situations happen in the NFL all the time.

Sometimes, both sides do everything right — and still end up moving on.

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