As part of the effort to overhaul their cornerback depth chart last offseason, the Detroit Lions acquired Carlton Davis from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Davis went out and had a nice 2024 season in a contract year, and despite missing the end of the season due to a broken jaw he's arguably the top cornerback available as free agency gets closer.
The Lions could, to replace Davis if he leaves as a free agent or just to add another corner to the mix, do something similar this offseason by trading for a cornerback who's entering his walk year.
So following that simple template, a trade for a cornerback who's entering the final year of his contract, here are five potential options for the Lions could make a deal for.
5 potential Carlton Davis trade pivots for the Lions
5. Jack Jones, Las Vegas Raiders
By surface stats, Jones had the best season of his career last season (69 total tackles, three interceptions, 16 pass breakups) while playing in all 17 games (16 starts) for the Raiders. Deeper stats were more mixed (98.5 passer rating allowed, 62.8 percent completion rate allowed, 53.9 overall Pro Football Focus grade).
It's a new regime in Las Vegas, and the coach Jones had history with going back to high school (Antonio Pierce) is gone. Pierce is also the coach that has been able to best handle Jones, and Pete Carroll may not want to deal with that as decisions are made this offseason.
Jones has had legal issues in the past, but that stuff appears to be behind him. The Lions' locker room and coaching staff could be just what Jones needs, and he could be acquired cheaply as a third or fourth corner with the idea Davis sticks around.