Former first-round pick Marcus Davenport has bounced around in the last couple years since his contract with the Saints expired, but it looks like he’ll remain in Detroit for a second season in 2025. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Lions have re-signed Davenport to a one-year deal worth up to $4.75MM. 
Unfortunately, this new contract doesn’t come from the team recognizing and rewarding a strong performance but instead comes from a second chance to make a first impression in Detroit. Davenport signed initially with the Lions last year after a disappointing prove-it year in Minnesota. Unfortunately, a season-ending elbow injury sidelined the 28-year-old after only the third week of the season.
The UTSA product has had issues with health throughout his career, never playing a full season. Since getting drafted, Davenport has only appeared in 69 of a possible 116 games. He’s flashed at times, totaling 10.5 sacks over his first two seasons with the Saints and tallying a career-high nine sacks in 2021 after having his fifth-year option exercised. That fifth year in New Orleans only produced half a sack in nine starts, though, leading to his one-year tryout with the Vikings, in which he only appeared in four games.
The Lions, unfortunately, don’t have the luxury of passing up on potential due to injury history. Last year saw the team’s Super Bowl hopes fall apart along with their defensive line as star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson only made five starts due to a season-ending leg injury. Several other injuries across the defense forced Detroit to make a number of signings and trades to accommodate.
In the aftermath of last season, bring back Davenport makes a lot of sense. The team can’t really pass up on the potential Davenport offers to the defense, and they knew Davenport wanted to come back. He would’ve had all season to rehab with the team’s doctors, so they should have a very good understanding of where he’s at in his recovery process and health journey. Davenport will hope to reward their faith with the comeback season that has eluded him these last few years.
I love Brad Holmes, but his obsession with players who can’t stay healthy needs to be studied.
I agree with you. It’s been his MO since he took over.
LOL!!! Vikes and saints said “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me”. Not the lions.
It is a low cost gamble. Davenport wants to be in Detroit and the Lions have bee monitoring his rehab progress.
Exactly. Holmes drafts as well as any GM in the league and has cap space.
Can we hope that this will be the last injured retread that Brad Holmes signs once this graham cracker breaks in training camp?
This signing is honestly disheartening. Brad has done amazing. And we all talk about “in Brad we trust” but this is the definition of insanity (doing the same thing over and over hoping for different results).
@missingmichigan. Davenport is most likely going to be the third de on the team. Holmes should be able to find one in the 1st. As far as guard you guys might be stuck with that til next year the ol class sucks. Magohany should be able to fill in this year when needed
Makes perfect sense for both sides.
Davenport needs to prove himself on a team that appreciates him and wants to put him in position to succeed, and the Lions are betting on a guy who already has a 9.5 sack season to his name.
Look at the way Josh Sweat bounced back in a huge way in 2024 after following up his 10 sack 2022 with a dud year in 2023.
No reason Davenport can’t do the same.
Is his nickname COUCH or SOFA ??
Yep. The old Lions are back. Not only do you sign this dud once, you do it again?! I would take a bet to Vegas that this clown doesn’t make it to week 2. Davenport’s agent is Amazing!!!