Exploring the roster impact of the Detroit Lions re-signing edge rusher Marcus Davenport to a 1-year contract.
As we inch closer to the 2025 NFL free agency period, the Detroit Lions continue to re-sign defenders. One day after re-signing three linebackers, NFL Network is reporting that the Lions have reached an agreement to return edge rusher Marcus Davenport to a one-year contract.
Let’s take a look at how this signing will impact the Lions roster now and in the future.
Origin story
Davenport was originally drafted with the 14th overall pick by the Saints in the 2018 NFL draft, was a rotational pass rusher as a rookie, and took over a starting role the following season. At 6-foot-6, 265 pounds with the ability to rush the passer, set the edge, and drop into zone coverage, he offers defenses lots of options.
Unfortunately, Davenport’s career has been blemished by injury. He missed 17 games over his first five seasons in New Orleans, missed 13 games with the Vikings in 2023, and then missed 15 games last season with the Lions.
2024 role: Starting EDGE
After a solid training camp, Davenport proved to be the Lions’ best option to start opposite Aidan Hutchinson. In traditional four-man fronts and subpackages, Davenport and Hutchinson would each rush the passer from their edges, but when the Lions introduced a SAM linebacker look, Davenport typically exited the field in favor of Josh Paschal.
While Davenport showed a lot of promise, he suffered a season-ending tricep injury in Week 3. It was the first in what would be a devastating run of injuries to defensive players in 2024.
2025 role: Challenge for a starting role
With Hutchinson expected to be fully recovered from his broken leg in 2025, the Lions will once again be on the hunt for a reliable starter opposite him. In addition to Davenport, Detroit also has Paschal and Za’Darius Smith (the Lions’ starting edge rushers to end the season) under contract. The trio gives the Lions a fair amount of options to choose from and, on paper, look like a solid two-deep rotation on the edge. The re-signing of Derrick Barnes as the SAM, further adds layers to the Lions’ pass rush.
However, with Davenport’s injury history, Paschal potentially being at his developmental ceiling, and Smith’s contract putting him in “salary cap casualty” range, the Lions should not feel comfortable.
Free agency impact
With Davenport back in the fold, the Lions won’t feel the pressure to force the addition of an edge rusher in free agency. If the right player comes along at the right price, the Lions will surely inquire as you can never have enough edge talent, but top-end edge rushers typically get big contracts early in free agency, and now the Lions won’t need to get in a bidding war unless they want to.
NFL Draft impact
While the Lions’ edge depth looks workable in 2025, all four players in the current two-deep rotation have contracts that expire after the 2025 season. Hutchinson is expected to have his fifth-year option picked up, receive a contract extension, or both, but the future of the other three is very much up in the air.
With no long-term solutions in hand, the Lions should absolutely remain interested in acquiring edge rushers in the 2025 NFL draft, including potentially selecting one in the first round. General manager Brad Holmes drafts with the future in mind, so you better believe that he is keeping the option to add even more talent on the edge open.
Impact on Lions’ future
While Davenport is a low-risk, high-upside option for 2025, he will have little to no impact on how the Lions address the edge rusher position in the future, keeping Detroit in play to add more youth at the position this offseason.
