Moving On From Carlton Davis
March 7th, 2022
Carlton Davis
All five rookie cornerbacks drafted among the first 33 picks played well last year, so Joe is very upbeat about the Bucs’ prospects if they go cornerback early in the draft to help replace free agent Carlton Davis.
Sure, Davis could be re-signed, but the Bucs can’t bring back all their big-money free agents. It’s neither possible nor practical. Too much salary cap funny money was kicked down the road when Tom Brady arrived and last year, and the Bucs have to pay some of that piper in 2022.
Nobody wants Davis to go, but reality beckons and Joe doesn’t expect Bucco Bruce Arians to cry too much about his defense with Pro Bowlers Vita Vea, Shaq Barrett, Devin White and Antoine Winfield on the field with Lavonte David. The Lost Decade teams would have loved that kind of challenge.
The Packers drafted cornerback Eric Stokes last season at No. 29 overall out of Georgia. He was reliable and beloved in Green Bay for a damn good team. Stokes started 14 games and had 14 official passes defensed, the most on the Packers’ solid defense.
The Browns picked corner Greg Newsome No. 26 overall, and Browns fans are more than satisfied with the guy based on Joe’s review of various Browns blogs.
Up at the top of the first round, the Panthers made Jaycee Horn the first cornerback off the board at No. 8 overall, and Denver followed them with Patrick Surtain II at No. 9. Both SEC corners made their teams proud.
Horn played well, including an interception, before he was lost with a broken foot in September. Many think Surtain (four picks) could have been a Pro Bowler for the studly Broncos defense.
With the first pick of Round 2 last year, the Jaguars chose cornerback Tyson Campbell. He was a starter and quickly became a favorite of the stat-data crowd.
So it’s clear immediate help for the Bucs could be there in the draft if Davis walks. Plus, Tampa Bay could inject competition with a free agent cornerback outside the top-tier group.
The only good thing about losing Davis would be the Bucs being able to compete for their key free agents in the trenches. And if you believe the game is won in the trenches, then that’s a good thing.
March 7th, 2022 at 2:46 pm
Didn’t realize last years corners were in this years draft. TIL. lol
March 7th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Hey Hey Hey were the Bucconeers.
March 7th, 2022 at 3:02 pm
Of course it’s possible to draft CBs early and have them contribute immediately. It’s a combination of talent, opportunity, and scheme fit. So many CBs in one draft succeeding right out of the gate is the exception rather than the rule.
Is the talent the same this year? I’m sure there are CBs the Bucs are interested in. Unfortunately, you have other needs and you have to prioritize positions, and prioritize relative value. So there’s really no telling if they’ll come out of this draft with a CB that can step in. I do think they’ll make WR, DL, perhaps even TE a higher priority. They could really use about 3 more premium picks.
March 7th, 2022 at 3:05 pm
The best ability is availability and Davis isn’t worth mega bucks if he can’t stay on the field. This draft is deep on both sides of the ball and we need to make some painful decisions.
March 7th, 2022 at 3:06 pm
Let someone else on our staff ouch the CBs and RBs
Licht needs to stick to the OLs and WRs.
March 7th, 2022 at 3:06 pm
*pick
March 7th, 2022 at 3:09 pm
And then there are the Vernon Hargraves.
March 7th, 2022 at 3:09 pm
BA will be gone before anyone but Gabbert can learn his genius offense.
March 7th, 2022 at 3:12 pm
Joe, I understand the money from the ads, but damn dude, stop them from coming up from the top.
March 7th, 2022 at 3:25 pm
Joe, any guess how many comp picks the Bucs may get from departing FA’s?
March 7th, 2022 at 3:30 pm
Just don’t draft a Gator CB. Sorry not sorry. Can’t go down that route again.
March 7th, 2022 at 4:21 pm
I like the idea of finding a FA vet for around $8-$10M per season and drafting a CB in round #1 or#2.
SMB and dean will be free agents next season as well…
March 7th, 2022 at 4:23 pm
Hc Grover,
Shut your trap! all you do is trash Bruce Arians..you do realize Brady came here because of the players and Bruce Arians..you don’t like the bucs organization then feel free to jump ship and go be a panthers or saints fan.. so tired of seeing your crying and bitching.take your negativity and beat it. Please be a adult it’s time to leave your moms house and be a real adult.
March 7th, 2022 at 5:07 pm
Davis is not a great corner, he’s a good corner. The Bucs secondary he’s a big fish in a small pond, which I believe has swelled his head. Doesn’t mean somebody’s going to give him ridiculous money though
March 7th, 2022 at 5:07 pm
I wish they could keep him but I’d prefer keeping the O line as much as possible.
Davis makes a huge difference for the defense when he’s playing compared to when he was out with injury. They have good safeties, Dean and Delaney are much better than people think, I am on the fence with SMB, and this draft is pretty deep at DB & D line.
I would not be surprised to see this drafted-
1-2 D-Line
1-2 DB
3-4 O Line
3-5 RB
3-5 TE
The only thing I’m not sure about is TE because as much as they will need one, this draft is pretty weak with it. The next couple years should be strong with it
March 7th, 2022 at 5:21 pm
We have two corners that can start already why are we talking about rookie impact at corner? If we get a good one sure they could probably eventually beat out smb who would still be the slot corner. I don’t think Davis is a priority, he’s not a 17 mil a year corner
March 7th, 2022 at 5:32 pm
Did HC Grover’s dad really just call him out or is there a joke 🤣 I’m missing ??
March 7th, 2022 at 5:36 pm
Whitehead is such a bigger priority FA to the secondary with our safeties compared to paying Davis top dollar CB money.
March 7th, 2022 at 5:43 pm
I agree 💯 about letting CDIII walk in FA , just hopefully not to someone in our division. They gotta get Godwin signed to a 4-5 year deal ASAP and save the F.TAG for Jensen or Cappa as they will be cheaper to tag them Godwin ×2 years in a row ! I don’t know the rate of the tag for centers or guards, but I don’t believe they are much more than 10-12 mil for the year. Plus it would give them time to sign them long-term and get some other players like Evans signed to a lifelong deal to help the Bucs save $ AGAIN.. They should have locked 🔒 Godwin up last year or even the year before. But it is what it is. Go Bucs
March 7th, 2022 at 6:19 pm
Tampa at DJ,
Just really tired of his insults.. The real bucs fans are waiting until free agency and the draft to be over before we hit the panic button. He forgets We sucked really bad for years. Brady retires and all he wants to do is blame Bruce Arians for everything
March 7th, 2022 at 7:08 pm
We need to sign Fred The Sled & have him start on the OL & maybe have him replace Donovan Smith. Fred The Sled would make the pro bowl before Donovan would. If it means moving Donovan over to replace Marpet fine but get somebody to replace Donovan there. Even if it is Fred The Sled.
March 7th, 2022 at 7:18 pm
I would have rather let cg walk wrs are easier to get than cbs
March 7th, 2022 at 7:20 pm
It’s going to be a huge mistake if they let Davis get away. He should have been the tag. I can’t believe they haven’t been able to get the Godwin deal done already.
March 7th, 2022 at 7:54 pm
This was an excellent article Joe, with a lot of time and thought going into it. Gives me hope.
March 7th, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Alontae Taylor
March 7th, 2022 at 10:39 pm
Carlton needs to come back. Very underrated
March 8th, 2022 at 2:47 am
to me carlton always looks all mellow and zooted with eyes wide shut 🙂
he’s like a super chill dude or something
March 8th, 2022 at 8:24 am
It’s a good move, we will get a nice comp pick which I’m sure will help us
March 9th, 2022 at 10:19 am
Carlton Davis is trash. He is constantly getting beat. Let him go.