The Carlton Davis Puzzle
March 9th, 2022
Bucs CB Carlton Davis.
In so many words, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht ran out of options.
The case of cornerback Carlton Davis fascinates Joe. Is Davis an elite corner? Probably not, though he has a history of shutting down other teams’ No. 1 receivers in the most important games (save for Cooper Kupp).
And it’s hard for Joe to believe a defense gets better losing its best corner. It’s not like we’re talking about letting E.J. Biggers or Mike Jenkins or Ryan Smith (Julio Jones says hi!) escape. What is even more concerning is the guy is only 25! Surely Davis hasn’t yet reached his peak. Has he?
Joe spoke about this last week with NFL Network’s Peter Schrager. He believes Licht just doesn’t have enough options to keep Davis.
“It is almost unheard of,” Schrager said of letting a 25-year old, top-10 corner walk. “But you look at the rest of their needs. Do you let Chris Godwin walk? Do you let some of these big boys inside, the entire defense line walk? It’s going to be priorities. I think Carlton Davis would be one. (Sigh), but gosh, I don’t know. Bowles defense, it is a lot about the blitz but you have to be really good in the back end.
“[The Bucs] have a lot of good corners, a lot of good defensive backs. Carlton Davis is going to get a monster deal somewhere. I don’t know if the Bucs match it. I don’t.”
Joe reads a lot of Bucs fans complain Davis is hurt a lot. Really? Yeah, he missed a chunk last year with an injury. Prior to that, he missed only two games a season. Is that a lot?
Compare that to Jamel Dean, who last year played in 15 games. That’s the most games he has played in for a season in his career.
Joe sure hopes the Bucs find a quarterback, or that the Tom Brady magic dust has rubbed off on Blaine Gabbert. Because it sure feels like the Bucs are going to have to score more points this fall — and the Bucs were second in the NFL in points per game (29.9).
March 9th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
3-14
March 9th, 2022 at 12:09 pm
I don’t mind CD go ….seriously, soft hands and misses tons of tackles.
I think is pretty much and overrated CB….
That would be a typical overpaid player…..Let other team do that….
March 9th, 2022 at 12:10 pm
If we lose Davis, and it’s looking like that is a strong possibility given our finances, then I think they will sign a veteran on the cheap and draft a corner fairly high, possibly in the first round depending on how the early part of the draft plays out. The good part is there is very good depth at corner in the draft as well as with defensive line and o line, all areas of need. Don’t like the idea of losing Davis but I think we’ll be okay if we do assuming we can get a reliable vet and a decent player in the draft to develop and possibly play early. Lots of young corners have had success recently playing as rookies.
March 9th, 2022 at 12:12 pm
Carlton’s trolling of Slant Boy crybaby Michael Thomas is almost enough for me to want to keep him just for that. He’s had some really bad games (Tyreek Hill, Cooper Kupp) but those are the outliers and not the norm. Unfortunately I think he’s too expensive. With the Bucs tagging Godwin they can’t afford to throw the kitchen sink at Davis and hope to keep guys like Godwin (still gotta sign long-term), Lenny, Jensen/Cappa (not keeping both anyway), etc.
March 9th, 2022 at 12:24 pm
Paying the “win now” price….and have a division championship & home playoff win to show for it…..
Not complaining….just explaining..
Players like Davis, Cappa, Whitehead & Goswin a couple of years ago could have been kept by giving them raises in their 4th year….negotiating longer term contracts….
Now it’t time to go through the checkout line.
March 9th, 2022 at 12:27 pm
We’ll get some compensation for him….maybe a 3rd/4th rd pick. It is what it is. Can pay him $10 million for what he does in this system. Maybe another scheme he’s worth that but with no pass rush, the secondary can put in anyone to play zone and tackle.
March 9th, 2022 at 12:37 pm
We all knew this was the price for win now mode & bringing in Brady and friends. Now it’s time to pay the piper. I said then the only way it would be worth it was if we won a Super Bowl. We did that so there’s that.
I hate losing Davis. He could be the best true cover corner in Buc history.
March 9th, 2022 at 12:37 pm
At this rate we may not be able to afford Gabbert. Are the Buccos in the poorhouse or what? Who is our emergency quarterback? Maybe Vea can play both ways and be the fullback? Is Tebow still available?
March 9th, 2022 at 12:40 pm
One thing I see people do a bit too much. They seem to think this is the NFL over 10 years ago when you were allowed to play defensive back. You are barely allowed to play defensive back anymore. Most of your standards are too high.
Am I saying CD is generational, no. But the alleged best corner in the league got burned all through the playoffs. It’s a different league.
March 9th, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Did Brady leave because the Bucs are broke?
March 9th, 2022 at 12:42 pm
TBBF- Nailed it! We are “paying the price”. It comes with winning and good teams usually find a way to overcome them. In the past I wouldn’t be so optimistic. I feel a lot better about this team, even with all the potential departures.
Davis is a good corner and the Fanman’s family motto is that you can NEVER have enough competent corners. It’s a numbers game at this point and Davis holds the cards, IMO.
My opinion is that we’re better with him.
March 9th, 2022 at 12:47 pm
LOL in a Davis article still get a dig on Gabbert. It’s an obsession.
March 9th, 2022 at 1:14 pm
We have the weakest fanbase in the nfl. Fear rules this base even though they knew Brady was close to retiring.
Freaking carlton davis was drafted in the second round AFTER mj Stewart and not very many people knew either of them. He turned into a star player really after Bowles got here.
I don’t understand being scared to death every time a guy needs to be replaced because of either money or age. It’s the nature of the beast and based on the last 3 drafts Licht has a history of getting impactful players.
March 9th, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Seems like I saw this article before…about 10 times. I guess cut and paste passes for journalism these days.
March 9th, 2022 at 1:43 pm
The defense will need go improve dramatically to help the offense this time around.
Secondary and defensive line both need help.
Secondary has younger, ascending free agents – Whitehead and Davis, while the D-Line has older, descending free agents – JPP and Suh.
Do you believe the Bucs will prioritise the front or back end this off-season, Joe?
Whitehead and Gholston would be high on my list, and cheaper. JPP and Suh can leave. Draft needs to be D-line and CB heavy
March 9th, 2022 at 2:47 pm
I think letting CD go would be a mistake. I’m not sure how anyone can be comfortable with Dean and SMB as our top your corners.
March 9th, 2022 at 3:01 pm
When did Kupp use CD3, except for that 1 play in 2021?
March 9th, 2022 at 3:15 pm
“Top-10 Corner…”
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
March 9th, 2022 at 4:17 pm
1st: Jameson Williams, Devonte Wyatt, Zion Johnson, (I wish Travon Walker would fall, but he ain’t), Kenny Pickett, Jermaine Johnson II, Roger McCreary, Trent McDuffie, Dax Hill, Andrew Booth Jr., (if Stingiey somehow fell due to last few years uncertainty), Tyler Linderbaum, Chris Olave or Kenyon Green
2nd: Tariq Woolen, Perrion Winfrey, Isiah Spiller, Breece Hall (probably won’t fall that far), Kyren Williams, Skyy Moore, Sam Williams, Pierre Strong Jr., George Pickens, Derion Kendrick, James Cook, Christian Watson, Jalen Pitre (one of my fave players in the entire draft)
I like Tyler Badie, Dame Pierce, David Bell, Haskins, Rachaad White and Price in later rounds as well as TE’s McBride and Belinger (because we need some bad) too
I’m forgetting a few, but those are my guys in no order in this Draft who may be plausible choices in either Round 1 or 2
March 9th, 2022 at 5:17 pm
bogiedr … 3-14?
Sounds absurd but probably more realistic than we want to believe. How 3-14 happens …
1. Godwin tag backfires. No deal, hold out, and/or he doesn’t heal.
2. Jensen and Cappa move on.
3. Trask/Gabbert start.
That’s a lot of things to go wrong but all are very probable … and it all is a result of the Godwin tag.
March 10th, 2022 at 12:04 am
This is why you work a deal for Godwin and you franchise Davis.