Detroit Lions land CB Carlton Davis in trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Detroit Lions traded for a new No. 1 cornerback Monday, but not the one you were thinking of.

The Lions sent a third-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for cornerback Carlton Davis and sixth-round choices in the next two NFL drafts.

The Lions gave up their own third-round pick in the deal, No. 92 overall. They still have the Minnesota Vikings’ third-round choice, No. 73 overall, from the 2022 T.J. Hockenson trade.

Davis had two interceptions in 12 starts for the Bucs last season and has been a full-time starter since his rookie year. He allowed four touchdowns and had a 96.1 passer rating against last year, according to Pro Football Reference, but missed five games with an assortment of injuries.

MORE BUZZ: Lions’ NFL free agency rumor tracker 2024: Latest updates and analysis

At 6 feet 1 and 206 pounds, Davis, who turns 28 in December, has the size and versatility the Lions like in their cornerbacks.

He made seven tackles in the Lions’ playoff win over the Bucs in January, and was the recipient of a bone-rattling block by Craig Reynolds on Amon-Ra St. Brown’s touchdown catch-and-run in the Lions’ October win in Tampa.

The Lions had been linked to several top cornerbacks in recent weeks, including Kansas City Chiefs franchised cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and the Cleveland Browns’ Greg Newsome, as they shopped around to bolster their secondary this offseason.

Last year, the Lions ranked 30th in yards per pass play (7.15) and 27th in passing yards allowed despite signing cornerbacks Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency.

SHAWN WINDSOR: Trust us: The Lions can’t get enough big men to build around

Moseley played just two snaps last season because of a torn ACL, but re-signed with the Lions last week. Gardner-Johnson played just three regular season games because of a torn pectoral muscle. And Sutton had a disappointing first year in Detroit, allowing a 112.3 passer rating against, according to Pro Football Reference.

With Davis in the fold, the Lions should have a deeper, more dynamic secondary this fall.

Davis can play either cornerback spot and should lessen the need for Sutton to guard opposing No. 1 receivers. Moseley is an upgrade at the No. 3 cornerback spot and will compete for a starting job when healthy. Brian Branch returns at slot cornerback after a standout rookie season. And Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu are expected back as starters at safety.

The Lions informed Jerry Jacobs, a part-time starter at cornerback last season, they do not plan to tender him a restricted free agent offer before the start of the new league year Wednesday, and Gardner-Johnson and Kindle Vildor, who finished the year as the Lions’ No. 2 cornerback, are set to become unrestricted free agents.

Davis is entering the last year of his contract and due a $14 million base salary this fall. If the Lions do not try and extend his contract, they still will have a long-term need at the outside cornerback position.

The Lions entered Monday with more than $40 million in cap space and agreed to a new three-year contract with left guard Graham Glasgow before the start of the free agent negotiating period.

They also agreed to a one-year free agent deal with Minnesota Vikings defensive end Marcus Davenport, according to NFL Network. Davenport played his first five seasons with the New Orleans Saints, including the first three when Lions coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn were in New Orleans.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.