On Tuesday, the NFL deadline for using the franchise or transition tag came and went, and for the seventh year in a row, the Detroit Lions opted not to use it. In fact, only two teams ended up using the franchise tag:
- Cincinnati Bengals — WR Tee Higgins tagged ($26.2 million)
- Kansas City Chiefs — G Trey Smith tagged ($23.4 million)
The Lions weren’t expected to use the franchise or transition tag, but there was one player who was at least worth that discussion. Cornerback Carlton Davis is heading toward free agency and is very well-liked inside the Lions facility.