Lions urged to sign under the radar cornerback as a potential Carlton Davis pivot

The Detroit Lions overhauled their cornerback depth chart last offseason, with Carlton Davis as the first piece upon being acquired in a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He then went out and had an excellent season before being sidelined by a broken jaw in Week 15.

Davis is also a free agent, so the Lions have a big decision to make. Davis should see what else is out there on the open market, as all players should if/when they can, and he is in line to have several suitors. If the Lions draw a line for how far they'll go in years and money to keep him, they will have to pivot to other options and Brad Holmes has proven to be adept at doing that. From a cornerback depth perspective, Kindle Vildor is also a free agent.

With other contracts coming, including safety Kerby Joseph if we're talking strictly about the secondary, Davis could simply get too expensive to bring back on a multi-year deal if he is intent on getting his market value. The Lions should have some indication about that before free agency starts.

Lions urged to sign sneaky pivot option if Carlton Davis leaves in free agency

As pivot options go if Davis is lined up to leave in free agency, the Lions could re-invest at or near the top of the cornerback market. But a free agent pivot feels more likely to be toward the cheaper side, and that's the direction Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports went for the Lions as he noted one free agent each team should prioritize.

"Here's maybe a forgotten free agent that could be the gem of the class. Paulson Adebo suffered a broken femur in Week 7, but was having a career year before being injured. In just seven games played, Adebo recorded 52 combined tackles, a whopping 10 passes defensed and three interceptions. The Lions need to upgrade the secondary, and Adebo would do just that."

Adebo, a third-round pick out of Stanford by the Saints in 2021, has spent his first four seasons in New Orleans. Before suffering a broken femur in Week 7 against the Denver Broncos, he was on pace for his best season in many categories. Pro Football Focus graded him as a top-15 cornerback in the league in 2022 (11th) and 2023 (15th).

As ill-timed as his injury was, as he now heads to free agency, Adebo has said he expects to be ready for training camp. Teams that pursue him in free agency will confirm his rehab progress.

Spotrac has Adebo's market value at $11.1 million per year, compared to $13.8 million for Davis, with a projected contract length a year shorter than Davis (two vs. three years).

Adebo's skill set and production make him a good fit for the Lions, and a he's solid pivot from Davis if they end up in that position.