We’ve heard it over the previous couple of years from former Bucs head coach Bruce Arians that Carlton Davis III is a Prime 10 nook within the league. As lately as this yr’s NFL Scouting Mix, Arians and normal supervisor Jason Licht doubled down on that assertion.
Then the Bucs paid him like one. Davis obtained a three-year, $44.5 million contract with $30 million assured in free company.
For a second, Davis was the ninth-highest paid cornerback within the league. That was earlier than extensions got to different corners across the league. Now Davis is simply outdoors the Prime 10 by way of contract standing.
One former high NFL cornerback thinks that’s extra indicative of the place he belongs. On a Twitter Dwell Areas room, former NFL nook Antonio Cromartie stated he doesn’t suppose Davis is a Prime 10 nook within the league at the moment.
“Carlton Davis was harm with the Bucs for a bit of bit, so I can’t put him within the Prime 10,” stated Cromartie, who was a four-time Professional Bowler with three totally different groups. “There’s lots of guys that’s within the Prime 10 that’s higher than him. I don’t suppose he was a Prime 10 nook and his market confirmed that additionally.”
Room For Enchancment
Bucs CB Carlton Davis III – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
It’s not that Cromartie doesn’t like Davis as one of many high gamers on the place. He simply thinks he wants to remain wholesome and be extra constant in his play. He factors out the teaching employees the Bucs have in place. Particularly two coaches he’s performed beneath in his profession as leaders who will help him take his recreation to the following degree.
“Do I like him? Sure” stated Cromartie. ” Do I feel he might be higher? Sure. I feel he’s bought an ideal coach over there in coach Kevin Ross and coach Todd Bowles. Two guys who I’ve been round for many of my profession. If he can perceive the sport and take the sport a bit of extra severely and make it a bit of bit simpler on himself, as a result of he’s not a quick man. He’s a man that will depend on getting his fingers on guys and enjoying off. He has to do a greater job at that, or he received’t be there for for much longer. As a result of it’s all about what you are able to do for me not what you are able to do for me later.”
If Davis can keep wholesome this season and make extra performs on the ball he might simply take his recreation to a brand new degree. Already a lock-down caliber participant, his 48 forced incompletions is essentially the most by any participant since 2019. The place Davis has struggled is developing with interceptions.
After not recording a decide in his first 21 video games, Davis lastly got here away along with his first INT through the 2019 season. He then added 4 extra in 2020 whereas serving to the Bucs win Tremendous Bowl LV that yr. Davis missed practically half the season final yr with a quad damage and solely had one interception. He dropped a number of others.
Probably one of many the explanation why Cromartie isn’t as excessive on Davis is that he undeniable fact that Cromartie was a ballhawk within the NFL. He had 31 profession interceptions in his 11-year profession, and led the league with 10 INTs in 2007 in San Diego. Cromartie had not less than three interceptions in seven of his 11 NFL seasons.
The 2022 season might be a giant one for Davis. If he can focus and end on the ball he might very nicely discover himself in that Prime 10 dialog – and with a possible Professional Bowl nod.
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