Detroit Lions Mailbag: Will the Lions franchise tag Carlton Davis and what positional need would surprise fans the most?
We're less than a week away from NFL free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft isn't far beyond there. Detroit Lions fans have a lot of questions as to what's going to happen with their team. Let's answer some of them. There's next to no chance for that move. The Lions aren't really a team […]
We're less than a week away from NFL free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft isn't far beyond there. Detroit Lions fans have a lot of questions as to what's going to happen with their team. Let's answer some of them.
There's next to no chance for that move. The Lions aren't really a team that likes to use the franchise tag. They haven't done it once since the four years that Brad Holmes has been the GM of this team. In fact, the last time the Lions used the franchise tag was in 2018 when they tagged Ezekiel Ansah.
It's not a cost-effective move for Davis because the tag amount for cornerbacks is a shade over $20 million. That is a lot for one year. The realistic expectation for Davis is that he gets a big offer elsewhere and the Lions look to get a little younger at the position. If they do sign him, the projected offer would be three years for $43.5 million.
It would be a major shock if the Lions don't bring back Zeitler in 2025. I know there's some thought that he might follow Ben Johnson to the Bears, but for a guy that's chasing a Super Bowl, it makes no sense to move away from the 15-2 team.
In terms of projected cost, look for Zeitler to get a one-year deal worth $7.75 million.
The Lions seemed to be really high on tight ends at the NFL Combine. I know there's a thought that they're all set with Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright, but both guys struggle in run blocking and everyone the Lions talked to at the combine excels at it.
I think it's definitely realistic. Brad Holmes talked a lot about the Lions' need for good depth at the Combine and Slay represents elite depth. This is a guy that can still bring a lot to the table as a rotational corner. He wants to be here and he's not likely to be very expensive. This one makes a lot of sense. The ball is in the Lions' court though.
Teams see a young quarterback with solid athleticism, a good arm. He needs time more than any quarterback in the draft if you ask me. If there were a class he could go to that teaches football theory and how to understand offense, he needs to go to that class. I personally think the Lions have that in Detroit with a group of guys that have proven experience in making quarterbacks better.
Every player in the draft is a risk. The reward here though is that if everything clicks, you get a good starting quarterback around the end of the decade.
This feels like the Lions will not be making any big splashes in free agency. The biggest question seems to be, what direction do the Lions go at Cb?
— ProudDetroiter (@detroitstrong.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 8:42 AM
I don't think the Lions won't make any splashes. It just really depends on how big the splash is. If you're expecting everyone at poolside to get drenched because of a giant cannonball, then yeah, you might be disappointed. If you're expecting people's feet to get wet, that's still a splash.
In terms of corner, as I said earlier, I think Davis gets a big deal elsewhere and the Lions get a little younger at the position with someone like Paulson Adebo or Asante Samuel Jr. From there they go with depth moves like Slay and probably a rookie.
I give it a solid 5% chance of happening. I know that teams will often say that they won't trade a guy and then they actually wind up doing it. The Browns are as dug in as I've ever seen a team. They actually have no plans to make this move, and that might wind up in a holdout or they wind up paying him a ton more money.
With that said, if the Browns do trade him, it's hard to see the Lions being the team that would make that deal as they're firmly committed to retaining their best players. This move fights that idea and wins in the end too. which means some players might be the odd men out.
While they may have been calling like a lot of teams have, this one just doesn't seem to be a move that will happen.
What the most realistically perfect free agency looks like for the Detroit Lions, Dan Campbell gets seven new toys and four Pro Bowlers for a Super Bowl run
We are less than a week away from the super fun chaos that is NFL free agency. The Detroit Lions are expected to be buyers this time around and they are expected to make some moves with the Super Bowl in mind. There's a fantasy out there where the Lions trade for Browns edge rusher […]
