When examining the Patriots' defense going into this past offseason, one of the most secure-looking groups was the secondary, particularly with Christian Gonzalez leading the cornerback group. But that didn't mean adding a player like veteran Carlton Davis III was a bad idea. In fact, it was widely applauded considering his career achievements.
And clearly, the Patriots wanted to be sure they got him in the door by awarding him a hefty contract to play alongside their franchise superstar in Gonzalez. Davis' arrival prompted plenty of excitement about the defense's potential this year, yet he hasn't lived up to that optimism through the first seven games.
Although he has been fairly consistent, there are some concerns about his longevity, as he has already dealt with some injury concerns over the past month. On top of that, other players, like Marcus Jones specifically, have stepped up far more than anticipated, which doesn't bode well for Davis.
To some, he looks like a slightly regrettable signing, even if there is still plenty of time left this year for things to turn around.
Carlton Davis III needs to step up his game with the Patriots before it's too late
Expectations were, and still are, high regarding the potential of the duo of Davis and Gonzalez for the Patriots' long term, and we've seen flashes of what that could look like over the past seven games.
However, Davis hasn't been nearly as consistent as many hoped he would be, earning a 51.8 defensive grading from Pro Football Focus, along with a 46.8 coverage grade. He ranks 92nd out of 112 cornerbacks in the league, which isn't great, especially when compared to Gonzalez, who ranks 36th.
While grading doesn't tell the entire story, it does show just how far Davis needs to jump to be the kind of game changer that fans were hoping for when he signed with the team earlier this season.
That can still happen, of course, as the season is just getting into the halfway point, but it's more about how Davis can accomplish that kind of jump rather than if he can. His career is the prime example of just how good he can be for a secondary, and now he needs to prove he can be that kind of player in New England.
They're certainly going to need it with some tough opponents still left to play, like the Bucs in Week 10, and hopefully, Davis will continue to improve over the next few weeks to help lock up another win.