Contract numbers for Lions' Davenport a good reminder to wait before reacting
The Detroit Lions' re-signing of Marcus Davenport to a one-year deal worth up to $4.75 million this weekend elicited a mixed reaction on social media, which unquestionably leaned negative. However, a clearer picture of the contract, revealed Sunday night, serves as a good reminder that immediate figures are often the best-case scenario for the player and can be a steep inflation of reality.
In this instance, nearly two-thirds of Davenport's maximum earning potential is tied to incentives. The veteran edge defender's contract includes a $1.35 million base salary and a $300,000 signing bonus, which is the extent of his guarantees.
In addition to those figures, Davenport can earn up to $850,000 in roster bonuses — $50,000 per game — and up to another $2 million for meeting playing time and sack thresholds. The requirements to collect the playing time and performance bonuses are unknown, but they'll likely be tiered. For example, he could earn a couple hundred thousand for playing 40%, 50% and 60% of the team's defensive snaps and similar bonuses for registering 6.0, 8.0 and 10 sacks.
If Davenport plays in all 17 games and hits every incentive, he’ll earn $4.5 million. And let's be clear, the Lions would welcome that. The former first-rounder's talent is undeniable, but so are his recent struggles to stay healthy. He was limited to two games in 2024 before suffering a season-ending triceps tear and four games the year before in Minnesota because of an ankle injury that required surgery.
Davenport will carry a $1.75 million cap hit in 2025, less than $500,000 more than the veteran minimum for a player with his experience. That figure represents his base salary, the signing bonus, and $100,00 in projected roster bonuses based on appearing in just two games the previous season. Any additional incentive money he earns in 2025 would be applied to next year's cap.
Maybe some of those fans who expressed initial frustration with Davenport's deal won’t be swayed by this new information. For many, any risk was too great, given the durability concerns. That's a fair opinion. Still, if nothing else, it adds context to the team’s decision to go with him over Za’Darius Smith, who won’t have his option picked up by the Lions.
Had Detroit exercised Smith’s option, his cap hit would have been more than triple Davenport’s in 2025, in addition to a lingering $5.2 million dead money hit in 2026. Even if Davenport hits every incentive, he’ll cost less than half of Smith.
In other words fans are dumb and reactionary
Not too bad at all. At least they aren't spending $80 million on another Flowers. Maybe all contracts should be based on playing time and incentives. You could set minimums for pay and a player would only see his full contract payout if he earned it.