The Detroit Lions have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the 2025 season and the biggest might be the improvement of their defense.
Aidan Hutchinson was brilliant for the Lions last season, racking up 7.5 sacks and 45 quarterback pressures over the first five games. But a broken leg made him one of 13 players that ended the year on injured reserve. The Lions tried to patch things together by trading for Za’Darius Smith at the trade deadline but it wasn’t enough to overcome their deficiencies as they coughed up 45 points in a divisional round loss to the Washington Commanders.
The injured players will return and the Lions added cornerback DJ Reed to help the secondary in free agency. But it might be the adjustment by a veteran that only played two games for Detroit last year who could be the difference.
Lions DE Marcus Davenport Taking ‘No Days Off’ This Offseason
Marcus Davenport was signed to team with Hutchinson last offseason but the Lions didn’t get a return on their one-year, $6.5 million investment as he suffered a season-ending triceps injury. After logging two total tackles and 0.5 sacks in two games, it appeared that Davenport’s tenure in Detroit was over before it started. But he returned to the team on a one-year, $2.5 million deal this spring in an effort to redeem himself.
Lions fans probably didn’t do cartwheels over Davenport’s decision to return. But that’s not the feeling in the team facility. Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard praised Davenport’s work ethic this offseason and believes that a rebound is coming next season.
“He’s had some setbacks in his career, but I watched that player take no days off this offseason,” Sheppard said. “He’s been here just as long as the coaches have, and putting in the work, and his body looks different right now. I firmly believe in speaking with him, his mindset is different right now.”
Sheppard also stated that Davenport’s goal is to play an entire season, something he has yet to do over his seven-year career.
“Just the confidence piece, and not holding back, not gauging, not throttling himself,” Sheppard said. “Training right now like he plans on being in the season in November, December, not kind of gauging to get there. He’s training right now in preparation for, ‘I”m doing this this year. I’m going to be available.’ Now there’s things that happen on the grass that you can’t control, but everything within his control, he’s doing everything of his ability to make sure he’s better.”
If Davenport stays healthy, the upside is there. A first-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in the 2018 NFL Draft, Davenport has 24 sacks over seven seasons including a six-sack campaign with the Saints in 2019 and a nine-sack campaign with New Orleans in 2021. But there have also been maddening stretches of inconsistency including making 0.5 sacks during a career-high 15 games in 2022.
Davenport has also dealt with injuries throughout his career but they’ve intensified over the past two seasons. A one-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 was cut short after four games due to an ankle injury and last year’s campaign left more questions than answers.
Sheppard’s comments sound great right now, but NFL minicamps double as “Best Shape of His Life” season. While Davenport looks great now, the Lions could be boxing themselves in without a solid backup plan. It’s what did the Lions in back in 2024 and could come back to haunt them if Davenport doesn’t produce in 2025.