Carlton Davis III

Career StatsA

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		106	11	94	449
2025		17	0	10	69
2024		13	2	11	56
2023		12

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Carlton Davis III delivered the kind of production that earns a B- Contract Value Index relative to the CB pay band. His 2025 season output of 69 tackles across 17 games anchored by his crucial interception against Houston demonstrates the kind of availability and impact that justifies a veteran cornerback at $18M AAV—not star money, but legitimate starter compensation. At cornerback, the market has bifurcated sharply between elite, Pro Bowl-caliber corners commanding $20M+ and depth options at sub-$12M, which positions Davis squarely in the established-starter tier where his three-year commitment feels appropriately calibrated. An eight-year veteran at 29 entering his final prime years, Davis represents the organizational archetype: reliable production without breakthrough accolades, and the B- reflects that balance—he's being paid like a dependable defensive anchor, not a marquee name. However, the underlying narrative tension is real: recent Patriots moves to acquire A.J. Brown, sign Caleb Lomu, and bring in Travis Shaw signal organizational investment elsewhere, leaving Davis in the uncomfortable position of pitching for his own future despite documented 2025 contributions. The Contract Value Index grades the deal as fairly struck for a veteran of his profile, but whether New England views him as part of the 2026 solution or the beginning of a secondary succession plan remains the operational question beneath the grade.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Carlton's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Carlton Davis III enters his seventh NFL season as one of the more experienced boundary corners in the league, bringing a consistent track record as a legitimate CB1 option. Drafted in the second round out of Auburn in 2018, Davis has logged 106 career games and established himself as a dependable press-man cornerback capable of shadowing elite receivers. His overall grade of A reflects a player whose sustained performance places him comfortably among the top tier at his position. Davis's most impressive current-season metric is his pass deflections rate of 0.59 per game, nearly double the NFL average of 0.33, signaling active, disruptive coverage that forces quarterbacks to think twice before targeting his side. His tackle production of 4.06 per game also exceeds the league average of 2.31, indicating strong run-support instincts and reliable open-field tackling for a cornerback. His season grades have held steady at B across 2025, 2024, and 2023, reflecting a player who hasn't peaked explosively but delivers reliability season after season without significant regression. The consistency trend is both his calling card and his ceiling — Davis profiles as a high-floor, mid-to-upper-tier starter rather than a shutdown corner capable of elite grades. In New England's evolving defense under a new coaching staff, his veteran presence and scheme adaptability will be critical assets worth monitoring. If his pass deflection rate climbs toward the elite threshold of 0.91, a breakout A+ caliber campaign is within reach.

How Carlton Compares at the Position

Carlton Davis III ranks 5th of 270 graded cornerbacks by performance. That slots Carlton between Paulson Adebo (A+) just ahead and Mike Sainristil (A) just behind.

Current Sentiment

The talk around Carlton Davis III this stretch nets a B sentiment grade. His perception has undergone a notable recalibration in recent weeks, shifting from a straightforward "reliable veteran" narrative into something more fraught—media coverage and fan discourse have begun positioning him through the lens of succession planning and organizational replacement rather than his actual on-field contributions. While his 2025 season performance earns an A-grade on tape and headlines highlight his availability through the playoff run, his crucial interception against Houston, and his partnership with Christian Gonzalez, the organizational signal—a mid-tier contract and active scouting of younger cornerbacks reflected in recent mock drafts—has overshadowed that production and convinced observers that New England views him as expendable depth rather than a secondary cornerstone. Recent transactions reinforce this narrative gap: the Patriots' June signings of A.J. Brown (via trade), Caleb Lomu, and Travis Shaw signal investment priorities aimed at building around other pieces, leaving Davis in the precarious position of publicly pitching for his own future while lacking organizational leverage. The result is a veteran defender whose genuine contributions are documented but whose narrative has moved past him—a sentiment upgrade from the prior D-grade reflects growing recognition of his role in the team's competitive identity, but the underlying tone remains one of cautious uncertainty about his place in New England's 2026 plans.