The Detroit Lions have been on the doorstep of the Super Bowl the past two seasons, but they knew the correct moves this offseason could push them over the top. Detroit has had a turbulent ride on the way to a 5-2 record entering their bye in Week 8, and some of their offseason choices may be the reason things were harder than they had to be over their first seven games.
One of those decisions came on the defensive line when the Lions decided to bring back edge rusher Marcus Davenport. While the Lions were fooled once after a 2024 campaign marred by injury, the Lions went back to the well at a discounted rate, forgoing other options and perhaps forcing their hand as the Nov. 4 trade deadline approaches.
The Lions’ Gambles on Marcus Davenport Keep Backfiring
Davenport has been a player who has run hot and cold throughout his eight-year career. A former first-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in the 2018 draft, the 29-year-old has campaigns of six sacks (2019) and nine sacks (2021) on his resume. But while he’s dealt with injuries throughout his career, they’ve been turned up a notch over the past three seasons.
After he was limited to four games due to an ankle issue with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023, the Lions took a chance on him with a one-year, $6.5 million contract in 2024. That gamble lasted just two games as Davenport suffered a groin injury in the season opener and a tricep tear two weeks later, giving Detroit a free avenue to pursue other options.
While Trey Hendrickson and Myles Garrett were floated out as trade possibilities, the Lions could have also benefited from signing a solid pass-rusher such as Joshua Uche, who has thrived with the Philadelphia Eagles after signing a one-year, $1.9 million contract with the team last offseason. Instead, the Lions re-upped with Davenport on a one-year, $2.5 million deal.
Like a gambler on a 10-leg parlay, the Lions may have thought the next contract was going to hit. But Davenport lasted just two games before suffering a shoulder injury. While he is expected to return sometime after the bye, it’s not a given that he’ll stay on the field. Even then, he may not be effective after posting a 62.8 overall grade and just two pressures on 29 pass-rushing snaps in the first two games, according to Pro Football Focus.
This hasn’t been a death sentence for the Lions as Al-Quadin Muhammad has stepped up across from Aidan Hutchinson to fill Davenport’s starting role. But Davenport clearly can’t be trusted and has to have the Lions thinking about adding a depth piece at the deadline. It’s something that may have the Lions kicking themselves even as Davenport nears his return and could have given them one less thing to worry about as they enter the second half of the season.