Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports.
His first act in Detroit went terribly, but the Lions will give him another shot.
Former Viking Re-Signs with Lions
He’s Marcus Davenport, a pass rusher who re-signed in Detroit on Saturday, just two days before the start of NFL free agency. Davenport isn’t leaving.
Detroit Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport (92) pressures Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, September 8, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK.
NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport tweeted, “Source: The Lions are bringing back edge rusher Marcus Davenport on a 1-year deal worth up to $4.75M. After injuries robbed him of most of last year, Detroit takes another shot to run it back.”
Most believed Davenport would hit open free agency after missing 82% of all football games in the last two seasons. But he’ll evidently have a chance at a redemption arc in Detroit, a team that flamed out of the 20224 playoffs in the Divisional Round following an upset at Ford Field by the upstart Washington Commanders.
These are the Lions’ defensive ends under contract for 2025 before free agency and April’s draft:
Aidan Hutchinson
Josh Paschal
Za’Darius Smith
Marcus Davenport
Nate Lynn
Mitchell Agude
Isaac Ukwu
Detroit’s defense ranked seventh in the NFL last season per EPA/Play — with Davenport mostly uninvolved.
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.
Davenport officially registered four games as a Viking in 2023, which was really only three because he tried to play against the Philadelphia Eagles but limped to the sidelines after one drive. He was a difference-maker for three contests and then succumbed to a high ankle sprain. No one heard from him thereafter. His 2023 contract — one year, $13 million — would’ve been more than worth it if he played, but he did not, for the most part.
Vikings fans adamantly criticized Davenport for a commitment to the team’s success after he never returned from the high ankle sprain, though the theory was never proven.
Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
New Orleans scooped Davenport in the 1st Round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and he has played 69 games since, starting 36. He’s tallied 151 total tackles, 68 QB hits, 27 tackles for loss, 22 sacks, and 7 force fumbles in seven seasons. The knocks on his resume are durability and consistency.
Here’s Davenport’s resume from Pro Football Focus since joining the NFL seven years ago:
2018 = 71.8
2019 = 84.1
2020 = 73.3
2021 = 88.8
2022 = 76.8
2023 = 55.4
2024 = 53.1
The Lions defeated the Vikings twice in 2024, and in fact, head coach Kevin O’Connel has only toppled Detroit once in his three seasons at the helm — his very first meeting against Dan Campbell’s team in 2022.
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports.
Detroit has three other ex-Vikings in its roster orbit: Teddy Bridgewater (QB), Abraham Beauplan (LB), and the aforementioned Za’Darius Smith (DE).
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
