The Detroit Lions are being urged to extend the contract of cornerback Carlton Davis, who has quickly made a strong impression in his first season with the team.

After trading for Davis from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March, the Lions restructured the final year of his contract to free up cap space for 2024.

While there’s no indication that talks about a contract extension have started yet, Davis made it clear during his initial meeting with reporters that he is open to the idea.

In a recent game against the Houston Texans, Davis had a standout performance, showcasing why the Lions may want to extend his tenure.

He revealed that the matchup was personal to him, as it took place at the site of a tough outing from the previous season when he was with the Bucs.

Davis responded with two interceptions and limited the Texans’ receivers to just two catches for 16 yards on six targets.

His performance was one of the best of the game, earning him a 91.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), making him the highest-graded Lions defender in that game and the second-highest graded player overall.

For the season,Davis ranks as the 15th-highest graded cornerback in the league, according to PFF. His performance in run defense is especially impressive, ranking in the top 10 with an 83.0 grade.

Additionally, he has 10 pass breakups on the year, with five of those coming in the last three games, while also managing to avoid penalties.

Davis’ efforts have contributed significantly to the Lions having the lowest passer rating allowed in the NFL, sitting at 75.1.

Beyond his statistical performance, Davis has brought a valuable presence to the Lions’ cornerback room, which has lacked this kind of leadership since the team traded away Darius Slay under former head coach Matt Patricia.

His demeanor and play style appear to be a perfect fit for the Lions’ defense, and it’s clear he’s had an intangible positive impact on the team’s secondary.

As the Lions continue to navigate contract extensions for several players since late April, discussions are beginning to turn toward who might be next in line for a new deal.

Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network believes Davis is a player the Lions should make a priority.

While acknowledging the challenges of re-signing Davis given the other extension talks the Lions have, Rogers emphasized that Davis is “the right player at the right time” for the franchise.

O n Monday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell shared a message he had given to Davis before the Texans game, pointing out that if he continues his high level of play, he will position himself for a lucrative contract in the offseason.

Multiple teams will likely be interested in signing him if he hits the free-agent market. Campbell also mentioned that the Lions will remain proactive about retaining their core players, something they have done successfully in recent years.

While it’s still unclear whether Davis will remain with the Lions long-term, the team is certainly expected to make a serious effort to keep him around.

Davis’ situation is slightly different from some of the other players the Lions have extended recently, as he was acquired through trade and is not a homegrown talent.

Nevertheless, if Davis continues to play at a high level, extending him before he hits free agency could become a priority for the Lions in the coming months.

Whether or not a deal gets done in-season, it seems likely that the Lions will take steps to secure his future with the team for the next several years.