Carlton Davis

Davis re-upped with the Buccaneers on a three-year, $45 million contract this offseason, despite an injury-shortened 2021 that limited him to 10 games. The 2018 second-round pick still is considered a critical component of the secondary, however, as he combines a physical tackling presence with a knack for getting his hands on the ball. Davis has recorded double-digit pass deflections in three straight seasons and has six interceptions in 38 games over that span. He again should be an active piece in an aggressive defense that requires hard-nosed play from its corners.

Davis once again proved to be a great IDP value among cornerbacks in 2020, as he finished with a career-high 68 tackles and four interceptions. He defended 18 passes overall and allowed just a 53.7 completion percentage in primary coverage, and he followed it up in the postseason with 22 stops and three pass defenses. Davis happens to be one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the NFL and also is a natural fit for the aggressive press coverage Todd Bowles' scheme calls for, which leaves him poised to serve as an above-average IDP at his position.

After seeing plenty of action as a rookie in 2018, Davis held down a starting cornerback role throughout the 2019 campaign. By all accounts, he made significant strides. Transitioning to a press-coverage philosophy under new defensive coordinator Todd Bowles - an approach he thrived in during his college days at Auburn - Davis recorded 19 defensed passes and his first career interception last season. The soon-to-be third-year cornerback also yielded a stingy 43.6 percent completion rate on throws in which he was the primary defender, lending credence to the notion he could be primed for a breakout IDP campaign. Not only will the year of experience in Bowles' system allow him to react a lot more than think once the ball is snapped, but Davis could also play even more aggressively if the team's safety situation sees an upgrade with rookie second-round pick Antoine Winfield and the returning Justin Evans (Achilles).

Davis has been standing out since getting on the field in rookie minicamp, and he's continued making an impact in training camp and the first preseason game. The former Auburn Tiger has proven adept at both the press coverage he played in college and more of an off-technique that the Buccaneers sometimes deploy, with his impressive play making a strong case for a robust role as a depth corner in the coming campaign.