‘Student of the game’ Carlton Davis returns for second season with the Patriots eager to continue growth as a cornerback

FOXBOROUGH — Carlton Davis isn’t a baseball guy, but when Patriots coach Mike Vrabel compared the cornerback to a pitcher Wednesday, the 29-year-old flashed a look of recognition.

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“As you continue to gain years in this league, you have to continue to find — especially at those speed positions — different pitches,” Vrabel said when asked about Davis.

“You have to find some minor adjustments and tweaks. And I know he’s continuing to focus on that and do that. He’s a competitive player, he’s a competitive person, and [I’m] excited to have him back.”

Back for his second season, Davis is the oldest corner on the team. He doesn’t possesses the elite fluidity of Christian Gonzalez, or the speed and quickness of Marcus Jones. So the 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pounder has been forced to find other ways to stay ahead of opponents.

After Wednesday’s minicamp session, he said for him it’s all about being a student of the game.

“Oh, for sure. Yeah. Hell yeah‚” Davis said when told of Vrabel’s assessment. “I wouldn’t be playing at this level for this long if I wasn’t continuing to add things, and continuing to be a student of the game.

“Just going back over the basics, and remastering the basics. Technique, and being closer to the ball, and just [my] proximity to the ball. I just try to hone in on being a student, and trying to learn every day.”

A former second-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2018, Davis spent the first six years of his career with Tampa Bay, and was a starter on the team that won a Super Bowl in 2020. After a year with the Lions in 2024, he signed with the Patriots as a free agent last offseason, and has been a strong No. 2 corner, working with Gonzalez.

“Playing at different schemes, different defenses, playing in [the] NFC and the AFC and having success — and even having the losses, it’s all a learning experience for me,” said Davis, who has 11 career interceptions. “One thing [Vrabel] says is, ‘Don’t take yourself too seriously.’ And when he says that, it speaks to ego. It speaks to me not having a big ego, and being able to learn from anybody: coach, player, or the film.”

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With Davis, it isn’t always simple. A physical style of play ended with him leading the league in defensive pass interference calls last year with nine (including two in the divisional round against the Texans). And his occasional penchant for wearing brightly colored game-day gloves likely contributed to his three defensive holding calls last season. (Only one player, A.J. Terrell of the Falcons, had more.)

But he also had some of the most memorable defensive plays of the year, including a pair of picks in that divisional-round victory. His durability also contributed to some much-needed continuity in the secondary; he played in a career-high 17 regular-season games, and only one Craig Woodson played more defensive snaps.

Entering the 2026 season, it’s not just about being ready to go physically. It’s extra film work. It’s finding small edges that include picking the brains of teammates. And it’s about being a positive presence in the locker room.

Vrabel said Davis has been “a great teammate,” while quarterback Drake Maye clearly feels the same way, calling Davis “a winner” who’s been “awesome” on and off the field.

“We go out there before practice, and he’s saying, ‘Hey, throw one at me and come challenge me today,’ ” Maye said. “He wants work, and he’s proven in this league as a guy who can make plays on the football. He’s one of the best at being physical and being honest in man-to-man coverage.”

Ultimately, while Davis remains all about learning experiences, he’s hoping that the current group of defenders takes some lessons out of last year and applies those moving forward. He calls last year’s defense “showstoppers,” and sounds optimistic the group can build off that momentum heading into 2026.

“I feel like we’re coming right in where we left off, playing at a high level [with] good chemistry,” he said. “It’s just so good to have all the guys back. When you have everybody here, you just can feel the momentum that we had last year. And even the new additions are coming in with the same mentality. So yeah, it’s been fun.”

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