The Detroit Lions made their first agreement with a free agent on Monday when it was reported that they will sign Vikings edge rusher Marcus Davenport.
Davenport is a former 14th overall pick and is a player that was highly touted coming out of UTSA. he played really well for the Saints before heading to the Vikings for one season. Injuries have affected his career though.
We wanted to learn more about Davenport, so we reached out to our friend Matt Miguez at Canal Street Chronicles to get some answers. Here's what he had to say:
What are your overall thoughts on Davenport’s time in New Orleans?
"Right off the bat, the expectations of what Marcus Davenport could do in New Orleans were too high because he was drafted higher than he really should have been. In hindsight, Davenport was a long reach when the Saints selected him 14th overall out of UTSA. after giving up the first-round selection the following year. However, the potential in Davenport was evident. He's a strong, quick, well-built defensive edge rusher who has the ability to be a smaller interior player if needed. He had strong spurts in New Orleans but also dealt with injury. Then, as the Saints do, they let Davenport walk whenever it came time to pay him the big money after a big season."
What are his strengths?
"One of his major strengths is his strength. He finished with 5+ sacks in three of his five seasons in the Big Easy, making life extraordinarily tough for opposing offensive linemen. I can remember he was regarded as one of the best defensive linemen according to Pro Football Focus, but the obstacle was always staying on the field. He didn't play a full season any year he was in New Orleans, missing five games in a season on two different occasions. He's got a freaky build, a quick first step, and is one of the strongest defensive edge rushers in the league."
What are his weaknesses?
"His health. Point blank, end of discussion. He has yet to play a full season and only played four games in 2023. He has never had the opportunity to fully get a rhythm and find consistency within a defense. He's still young, he still has a lot of tread left, but if he can't stay going down the road, it won't matter much longer."
Would Davenport be a lot more well known if he could stay healthy?
"Davenport would probably be more well known, yes, because he'd probably have a Pro Bowl or two to his credit. But I think Detroit is getting a steal of a contract for a player that, paired with Aiden Hutchinson and another former Saint in Alex Anzalone, will do big things for Aaron Glenn's defense."
Is Detroit the right place for him to show what he can do?
"Detroit is a great fit for him because of the familiarity. He worked with Glenn in New Orleans as well as Anzalone. He's adaptable like I mentioned earlier with his ability to play both inside and out depending on the matchup. The overlying message is his ability to stay healthy. If he's on the field, he's a major impact piece for the Lions in 2024."
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