The Patriots are beginning to do work with their league-leading cap-space figure. After adding Harold Landry and Robert Spillane, secondary help is coming.
Carlton Davis is joining the Patriots on a three-year, $60MM deal, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reported during a TV appearance. This marks a second cornerback domino from the legal tampering period, as the Giants have agreed to terms with Paulson Adebo.
PFR’s No. 16 free agent, Davis has extensive postseason experience and was in solid form before going down with a broken jaw for a Lions team that finished 15-2. The Lions were unable to keep Davis, though they used first- and second-round picks on corners last year. Davis was also linked to the Jaguars before the market opened, but he will head to Boston to play alongside All-Pro Christian Gonzalez.
Well versed in zone- and man-based designs, the former second-round pick started in Super Bowl LV and has lined up as a first-stringer in eight other playoff games. The Buccaneers had re-signed Davis on a three-year, $44.5MM pact in 2022 but traded him to the Lions for a third-round pick last year. Joining D.J. Reed, Rasul Douglas, Charvarius Ward and Byron Murphy as CBs seeking a third contract, Davis has done very well. He becomes the eighth $20MM-per-year corner, following Jaycee Horn‘s record-setting deal from earlier today.
Davis, 28, reduced his completion percentage, passer rating and yards per target figures (55.3, 77.0, 7.5) from 2023-24 despite the Lions having no dependable pass rusher after Aidan Hutchinson’s injury. The 6-foot-1 cover man has started 88 career games. He, Landry and Spillane’s medium-term deals will overlap with Drake Maye‘s rookie pact.
After Bill Belichick had given the Patriots a perennially reliable defense, the team’s performance dropped significantly last season. New England ranked 22nd in both points and yards allowed, falling far despite Gonzalez’s first healthy season producing an All-Pro nod. Landry and Davis will be stepping in as 2025 pillars against the pass.
Looks like they Patriots are really working hard to improve their defense. First Landry now Davis. I’m thinking they are going to draft either Hunter or Carter at 4 right now.
I’m thinking this move means Will Campbell Or Meobou tbh
At 4? Membou would be a nice pick at 4 and he has versality to play inside or out.
both of those guys would be overdrafts at 4. Campbell has a high risk of ending up at guard and Membou is very raw. If they moved back to like 10-12 sure but if Hunter or Carter are at 4 I expect the pats to take either of them.
Hunter might be available at 4. Carter will be gone, unfortunately. If both are gone, I’d like to see them trade back 3 or 4 spots.
Are they going to address their obvious needs on the offensive side of the ball? Looks like they’re going to attempt to fix the offense via the draft.