Carlton Davis III expected to still be wearing a Detroit Lions uniform in the 2025 NFL season. Instead, disagreements during contract negotiations brought his time with the team to an early end.

Now a member of the New England Patriots, Davis spoke with reporters this week while preparing for Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks. According to Detroit Free Press reporter Dave Birkett, Davis’ preference was to remain in Detroit and continue building on what he started there.

However, Davis made it clear that finances were not the main reason the two sides parted ways. Rather, the sticking point came down to how the contract was structured.

“It wasn’t about the money,” Davis explained. “There were certain terms in the deal—language I wasn’t comfortable with—that we couldn’t get past. I’ll keep the details private, but that was the real issue.”

Ultimately, Davis left Detroit and signed a three-year, $54 million contract with New England. The agreement included $34.5 million in guaranteed money over the first two seasons. The Lions moved quickly to address his departure, signing cornerback D.J. Reed to a three-year, $48 million deal.

Despite the negotiations falling through, Davis expressed nothing but appreciation for the Lions organization, including head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes.

“I’ve got nothing but love for Detroit,” Davis said. “I was still rooting for those guys before the season even started, hoping they’d make another playoff run. I built strong relationships there. The way free agency was handled with Brad and Dan was honest and straightforward—no games, just clear communication. I respect how they operate and I’ll always support those guys.”

Detroit originally acquired Davis in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2024 offseason. His year with the Lions was impacted by several injuries, including issues with his hand and a broken jaw, which limited his availability during both the regular season and the postseason.

Even with those setbacks, Davis made an impact when he was on the field. In 13 starts for Detroit, he recorded 42 total tackles, two tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery, serving as a key contributor to the Lions’ defensive unit.