The Detroit Lions are bolstering their pass rush by signing a former first-round pick away from a division foe.
According to Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network, the Lions have agreed to terms with defensive end Marcus Davenport, who will join Detroit on a one-year deal from the Minnesota Vikings. The deal gives veteran depth to the defensive unit while also addressing one of the team’s most pressing needs.
The 27-year-old Davenport began his career with the New Orleans Saints, where current Lions head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn served as assistant coaches. According to Vito Chirco of SI.com, Davenport will join Detroit on a one-year contract worth up to $10.5 million in incentives.
As Chirco pointed out, Davenport was a good end for the Saints in 2021, with 9.0 total sacks, but his output has dropped in the last two seasons. Davenport’s ankle ailment restricted him to four games last season, but he still made seven total tackles with four sacks and had a 55.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
“In signing Davenport, the Lions are hoping the 6-foot-6, 265-pound defender reverts to his pre-Minnesota level of production,” he wrote. “If he does, he’ll be a great addition to the Lions’ defense. At this point, he projects as a rotational pass rusher for Detroit. And, if he can stay fit, he could be the ideal EDGE compliment to Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson.
Aside from Hutchinson’s contributions, the Lions struggled to generate a consistent pass rush. James Houston, a second-year edge rusher, failed to recreate his breakout rookie season, in which he recorded eight sacks in seven games.
The Lions signed Davenport to improve their defensive line, but missed out on Christian Wilkins, a former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle who signed a four-year, $100 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that the Lions were interested in Wilkins earlier this week.
“After Chris Jones landed a big deal on Saturday night, Miami’s Christian Wilkins is likely to be a hot name, with contending teams such as the Texans and Lions looking to upgrade at that position,” Graziano noted in an email.
SI.com’s All Lions Christian Booher also stated that Wilkins “could be a game-changer for the Lions.”
“Wilkins will be a big addition wherever he winds up, and has the ability to be a difference-making element,” Booher said in a statement. “With the Lions’ needs, it would be a significant move that would signal Detroit’s desire to compete for a Super Bowl.”
On March 11, when the NFL’s legal tampering window opened, the Lions were rather quiet, signing Davenport and making a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for super bowl
