Detroit Lions keeping more of the band together, re-signing Marcus Davenport

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The Detroit Lions continue to re-sign their own ahead of next week's free-agency period, agreeing to terms on a new one-year deal with Marcus Davenport, according to the NFL Network.

This will be the second consecutive prove-it deal for the powerful edge rusher, who impressed in limited playing time last season before his year was ended by injury.

A first-round pick for the New Orleans Saints in 2018, Davenport's production peaked in 2021 when he tallied 9.0 sacks and 42 total quarterback pressures.

But that's when the injuries started piling up for the defender. He had a pair of shoulder surgeries and also had part of his left pinkie amputated ahead of the 2022 season. He was still able to play in 15 games, but his production plummeted. He finished the campaign with a half-sack.

The following offseason, he signed with the Vikings as a free agent but was limited to four games due to an ankle injury that required surgery. That led him to Detroit, where he reconnected with coach Dan Campbell and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who had overlapped with Davenport in New Orleans.

In 2024, Davenport was held out of the early portions of the offseason program and started training camp on the physically unable to perform list before being quickly activated. It wasn't long before he had the attention of his new teammates.

"I never played Davenport before," offensive tackle Taylor Decker said. "He was always hurt whenever we would be matched up, but he's a big, edge-setting, powerful defensive end. He might have one of the best bull rushes that I've (faced)."

Davenport was able to carry his strong camp into the season opener, where he split a sack and hit Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford four times in Detroit's overtime victory. However, a groin strain sidelined him for the team's Week 2 game against Tampa Bay.

Davenport returned to action in Week 3, but his season was ended when his tricep tore after his arm was chopped by Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson. Again, an injury required surgery, and despite the player stating he hoped to return to the lineup if the Lions made the Super Bowl, he never got the chance.

Davenport earned a little less than $6 million from the Lions last season despite logging just 89 defensive snaps. The NFL Network reports his new deal is worth up to $4.75 million.

Davenport is the fourth Lions defender to agree to a new contract with the team in the past two days. On Friday, the Lions came to terms with three linebackers — Derrick Barnes, Anthony Pittman and Ezekiel Turner.