Buccaneers get bad news on most important free agent
By Rob Leeds
What would the Buccaneers do without Carlton Davis?
After the Buccaneers chose to use the franchise tag on Chris Godwin, Carlton Davis emerged as the most important free agent to keep in Tampa.
Davis is a perfect fit in Todd Bowles’ defense and has also made a name for himself as one of the best corners in the league. The Bucs may like the speed and athleticism that Jamel Dean brings on the other side, but Davis has the instincts and head for the game that help him succeed despite the lack of the speed.
Every team needs a quality CB1, and Carlton Davis has been this player for the Buccaneers over the past two years.
Unfortunately the decision to franchise tag Chris Godwin that made Davis the next man up is also the move that could seal his fate in Tampa.
Davis will now get to test free agency, and according to JoeBucsFan on Twitter, Buccaneers fans should start to prepare for the worst on one of their most important players.
Monday simply starts the verbal side of the free agency craze. There is still a chance for the Bucs to make a case as to why Davis should stay put, but this news makes it seem like Davis already has his mind made up on going elsewhere.
This makes sense. Regardless of what fans may think in the comments under a select group of lowlights on Twitter, Davis is going to command the corner market. The only free agent corner that would have a bigger market is J.C. Jackson, but the difference between their price tags will not be as large as most think.
Teams are always looking for ways to beef up the corner position. Corner has become one of the most important positions in the sport, and teams will always overpay for someone with upside.
While we can’t change the past now, it was obvious before the decision was made that the Buccaneers needed to reach a long-term deal with Chris Godwin months ago so they could use the franchise tag as a tool to keep Carlton Davis in place.
Options for immediate replacements aren’t great. Expect the Bucs to look closely in the draft and free agency, but the prospects of competing in 2022 just got a bit more unlikely if this news is to be believed.
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