Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) looks on at a timeout against Los Angeles Rams during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, September 8, 2024. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Detroit Lions didn’t lose much during free agency, but it’s a testament to what Dan Campbell has built in Detroit. After going 4-19-1 in his first 24 games, the Lions have posted a 36-11 record over his last 47 games, including a trip to the NFC Championship Game in 2023 and the NFC’s best record at 15-2 last season.

That type of winning culture makes people want to stick around, but there’s always a player who thinks they can find a better situation in free agency. One key departure from last year’s team got a big payday when the league year began. But things may not have been what they seemed as he gears up for his first season with his new team.

Carlton Davis III Probably Wishes He Would Have Stayed with the Lions

The Lions’ biggest loss this offseason was cornerback Carlton Davis III. Acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Davis served as the top corner in Aaron Glenn’s defense, allowing 43 catches, 583 yards, and three touchdowns with two interceptions and six pass breakups on 72 targets according to Pro Football Focus, and parlayed that into a three-year, $54 million contract with the New England Patriots.

In Davis’s defense, there are some benefits to landing in New England. The Patriots went wild with over $100 million in cap space this offseason, adding defensive tackle Milton Williams, edge rusher Harold Landry, and Robert Spillane to revamp the defense. New England also hired defensive-minded coach Mike Vrabel and is excited about the second-year prospects of quarterback Drake Maye, but there’s some unnecessary drama around him on the offensive side of the ball.

Stefon Diggs signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract to become Maye’s top target this offseason, but was absent during OTAs. Diggs’s personal offseason activities were a topic of discussion when he returned, and the rest of the Patriots offense doesn’t look like an explosive group that can take pressure off the defense.

The Lions turned out just fine as they signed DJ Reed to a three-year, $48 million contract to replace Davis. While Reed is making less money, he’s also backed by a high-powered offense that led the NFL in scoring at 33.2 points per game last season. If Diggs’ drama continues or the Patriots can’t put points on the board, Davis’s new contract will come with some heavy lifting and some thoughts that he should have stayed in Detroit.