Less we forget… The Rams are paying $17 million per year for a backup LG…
2 Likes
Yes, it’s possible. Despite my track record in The Den, I’m not a seer. 
We have money to spend in 2025 and then massive salary cap hits in 2026. I think Brad will show salary cap restraint, activate the long term comp pick strategy most elite teams use, and “sign his own”. I think commitments to Hutch, Kerby, Barnes, Branch, LaPorta and Levi will come at the expense of Carlton Davis.
Bonus question: Why didn’t Brad negotiate an extension with Carlton Davis before the trade, like the Titans did with Sneed, if his intentions with CD were long term?
5 Likes
I agree with Jean and Phunny. Here are Levi’s career stats:
Levi stats
He missed all of 2022 and he was a shell in 2023. He has been solid in 2024, esp. recently but not a game changer. He is 27 in 2025.
Levi is a really good 3rd DT and a solid rotational guy but he isn’t a Pro Bowl level player overall. I want him on the roster in 2025 but for likely around $8 million/season or less. He has 3.5 career sacks.
Levi is a lot like Iffy. I want to keep them as they fit here, we know them and they should be inexpensive as they are very risky players.
I can see Carlton Davis roughly having a contract equal to a Levi, Iffy AND a Tim Patrick for example. Maybe add in DE Muhammad too. I would fill out the roster over locking down Davis.
Jonah was in a different situation than Levi. They are roughly the same age but Jonah missed maybe 8 games in four years (I can’t remember when a 17 game season started). Levi missed a full year AND was a shell in 2023.
Sneed didn’t have any years remaining. He was on the tag. Not really comparable situations IMO.
3 Likes
I ‘d rather sign Carlton Davis…
if it were for the same price (combined) as Iffy, Levi, Patrick, and Muhammad.
Brad can work the bargain bin for depth players…
I’ll take the starting outside CB in that scenario.
Lions don’t have too many UFAs…
and have almost 40 guys under contract expected to be on the 53-man roster in 2025…
which doesn’t leave too many open roster spots after the draft class is added.
2 Likes
I don’t think this regime ises the tag. No hostages - want players who want to be here and happy to be here.
3 Likes
True. Brad chose not to negotiate an extension at the time–perhaps he made some efforts; he probably had some time for that in late March–while understanding the likely comp pick possibilities down the road.
I locked on to the comp pick route early and have dug in on it ever since: Confirmation bias activated. We’ll see.
1 Like
I do think Brad will have a pretty firm ceiling. Just don’t know what that number is.
The injury probably helps us.
3 Likes
There was interest in an extension. CD wanted to test the market this offseason.
3 Likes
I think they’ll talk extension
Franchise tag is in play, if not transition tag???
4 Likes
@Tcmouse this is a great question. And I am not sure CD is the biggest drop off on D.
Hutch is still our sacks leader. That’s depressing.
Our run D has been porous vs very solid when we lost Alim.
We have struggled without CD but did give up no TDs last week to one of the top offenses in the league.
All 3 massive impact players.
2 Likes
I think alot of these decisions depend on the SB and the status of AG.
i.e. If win the SB, we’re probably more likley to let Levi and CD3 walk. I’m not saying that’s locked in but it will be a factor. Also, if there’s no AG, maybe we’re not paying as much man. So is CD3 the best option?
I do agree with @TouchdownMyPants that Levi will be more expensive than we think. Interior line play is at a premium right now, and all it takes is one team. Alot of new coaches out there want to get tough in the middle. If Levi gives us a break, maybe he’ll be back, but Brad will let him walk a’la Jonah, JWill, Chark and Reynolds if Levi is looking to break the bank.
2 Likes
Tagging CD3 is not really an option and most of the key reasons have been mentioned:
Not part of the culture Brad has developed.
No one in the locker room is upset with their contract.
Even those that took a pay cut were happy to return.
CD3 is cashing out on this contract!
Also, the interest in extending CD3 was before the draft.
After understanding that CD3 wanted to max out on next contract Holmes selected 2 CB’s high in the draft.
Tagging CD3 would be a big fat $20M block that can’t be moved or manipulated. There is cap space but Holmes has shown he likes to get in front of rising contracts and sign HIS stars early. Both Hutch and Kerby are eligible for extensions in the offseason and I expect both to get top of Market contracts totaling $50-$60M AAV. That number can be manipulated with bonuses and over multiple years. A big Franchise Tag in 2025 would make that more difficult.
Holmes essentially traded down from a late 3rd to a later 3rd or late 4th rd pick. Not a bad rental.
The biggest loss in the defense was at LB.
Buffalo torched the replacements by running the ball and hitting RB’s and TE’s. Outside CB coverage was not the problem. CB’s would be good with Amik, a 2nd year TA, and Rake, plus a draft pick and cheap vet like Stephon Gilmore as insurance if Rake or rookie aren’t up to starting.
Gilmore signed a 1 yr / $7M deal with Vikings and has started all year.
I believe both Brad and CD3 both know he is gone in 2025.
I was hoping for the fairy tale ending with a super Bowl for CD3 before he gets paid.
That can happen but it doesn’t appear it will be with him in the game.
The only way I think CD3 returns is if his value sinks so low that he is willing to come back on a 1 yr deal to get his value up so he can try the FA market the following season (CJGJ scenario).
2 Likes
Do you know something we don’t?
I think you meant Levi
I do believe Levi is gone as well but it was a
Typo. Thanks for pointing out. Fixed.
1 Like
Levi is gone as well.
It’s not just about the money.
Levi has no path to starting with the Lions.
His best position is as a 3T which the Lions have committed long term to Alim.
Levi can play Big End but ideally the Lions want a longer player at that position that can crush the pocket.
As most NFL players, he longs to start and have a stable position he can develop.
Now back to money.
This is Levi’s one big chance to get a big contract.
Levi is a great utility reserve that can rotate all along the D-Line but someone will pay him to compete for a starting position.
Holmes can only pay him as a reserve.
Starting dollars are allocated to Alim, Reader, Hutch, and Za.
I could see Levi getting a chance to compete for a starting position with whatever team AG or Ben ends up coaching.
1 Like
Brad Holmes doesn’t seem to be a guy who tags players. He evaluates players and makes an offer. I may be off here but Brad made this list of players top paid guys or top five paid guys the last couple seasons without tagging anyone:
Sewell, Ragnow, St. Brown and Alim McNeil.
Brad also found a way to extend players and made them happy without going crazy:
Taylor Decker, Alex Anzalone, Kalif Raymond and Graham Glasgow. RB Montgomery was a free agent who was also signed an extension.
Mistakes have also been made. Cam Sutton. Romeo Okwara (injury in that case).
Brad has also let guys walk. Golladay. Julian Okwara. Jonah Jackson. Evan Brown.
Last, Brad has also signed free agents like DT Reader and Zeitler. Amik Robertson.
Brad knows value and culture. I don’t think he drafted two CBs because Davis wasn’t extended. I think he liked the character and skill set of Arnold and Rakestraw.
Brad has likely made an offer and he will likely make an offer that is based on player skill set. If Davis leaves Brad is prepared. I don’t think a tag will be used as Brad either wants and signs a guy or he doesn’t. Why sign a guy if he doesn’t want to be here AND the offer was legit. Brad doesn’t lowball talent.
2 Likes
Let the middling players go - draft replacements. Levi can see what’s out there. Iffy - lowball offer. He plays 4 games a year.
Pay the high end talent like Hutch, Alim, now CD3, K.Joseph, Branch.
CD3 still important because Arnold, Rake both aren’t top level talents. Arnold at or near the Vildor level so far. Rake no idea. Have Amik though.