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Friends don’t let friends run with random internet rumors.
Thursday morning, a rumor started by Chad Forbes on Twitter suggested that Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis is on the trading block, because he “appears to have fallen out of favor with Matt Patricia’s coaching staff.”
Anyone who has been paying attention to the Lions for the past few years immediately shook off those rumors. The coaching staff has been unrelenting in their praise of Davis, and despite the move to add Jamie Collins Sr. this offseason, nothing suggested Davis’ job for 2020 is in jeopardy.
Still, because Forbes has more than 17,000 followers on Twitter, the rumor swirled across Lions Twitter for most of the morning.
That is, until the Lions stepped in. Much like when the ridiculous Matthew Stafford trade rumors went rampant, a source within the team contacted Lions beat writers to let them know that this rumor was completely unfounded and unequivocally false.
Was told the Jarrad Davis trade rumors are "100% False."
— kyle meinke (@kmeinke) March 25, 2020
For those who've asked: The Jarrad Davis trade rumor is 100% false. No reason to ask about it anymore. He will be a Lion this fall, guaranteed.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) March 25, 2020
Just to be clear, I've been told any rumors for the Lions trading Jarrad Davis are "100 percent false." It's not happening.
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) March 25, 2020
As others tweeted, the team jumped out ahead of Davis trade speculation to squash it. The internet is a scary place. Don't click on any of those free gift card banner ads while you're looking for the next rumor.
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) March 25, 2020
Davis is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Lions will have to make an interesting decision on his fifth-year option by May. If exercised, the Lions will have him under contract for an additional year but owe him around $10 million in 2021, which is only guaranteed by injury. Detroit would then have the option to release him before the start of the 2021 league year and incur no dead money—or they could choose to just not exercise the option, making him an unrestricted free agent after this upcoming season.
Regardless of what the Lions decide to do, it appears Davis is currently part of the team’s plans in 2020.