A former Buccaneers player expressed satisfaction with Carlton Davis being traded to the Lions, indicating that not everyone is concerned about the Buccaneers letting him go too soon.
In one of their early offseason moves, the Buccaneers traded a starting player, which was somewhat unexpected given their focus on retaining top talent. However, Carlton Davis III didn’t fit into that strategy for the Bucs, leading to his trade to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a third-round pick.
This move served multiple purposes for Tampa Bay: it created cap space, secured another Top 100 draft pick, and opened up a spot on the depth chart for potential new talent to emerge.
While the player who will fill Davis’ spot is yet to be determined, it’s evident that giving Davis a fresh start in Detroit was beneficial for both parties as the team aims to strengthen key areas of Todd Bowles’ defense. The pressure now falls on Jamel Dean to perform as the top cornerback the Bucs need, while creating opportunities for players like Zyon McCollum and potentially a rookie to step up and make an impact.
Although Jason Licht acknowledged that trading Davis wasn’t an easy choice, not everyone within the Bucs organization was disappointed to see him leave.
Former Buccaneers player Ian Beckles expressed confidence in the defense post-Carlton Davis III trade during a recent podcast episode. Beckles criticized Davis, dismissing concerns that the Buccaneers might regret trading one of their starting cornerbacks.
Beckles remarked that Davis had a subpar performance last year, being involved in several significant offensive plays against the team. He highlighted instances when the Buccaneers played better defensively without Davis, emphasizing his injury-prone history and key missed moments in games.
Despite these criticisms, Beckles acknowledged Davis’ contributions to the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl win in 2020. However, he believed that trading Davis was necessary for both parties, echoing sentiments shared by Buccaneers fans. The trade provides Davis with a fresh start and gives the Buccaneers a valuable draft pick to bolster their future prospects.
