Marcus Davenport

Career StatsD

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		78	25.0	164	18
2025		9	1.0	14	3
2024		2	0.5	2	0
2023		4

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Lions secured solid value by landing Marcus Davenport on a $2.5M AAV prove-it deal, earning a B- CVI that reflects smart risk management for a rotational pass rusher. Detroit is essentially paying backup money for a former first-round pick who still possesses the athletic tools that made him the 14th overall selection, even if injuries have prevented him from reaching that ceiling consistently. At 28, Davenport sits in the sweet spot where he's experienced enough to contribute immediately but young enough to potentially have a career resurgence if he can stay healthy. The one-year structure with $1.6M guaranteed is perfectly calibrated — the Lions get an upside flier without long-term commitment, while Davenport gets a chance to rebuild his value in a rotation that should keep him fresh. This is exactly the type of calculated gamble that championship-caliber organizations make, adding depth and potential impact at a position of need without breaking the bank or hampering future flexibility.

Performance Analysis

Marcus Davenport, an 8-year veteran and former first-round pick, has struggled to recapture his early-career promise in Detroit. Currently grading out at a D, he sits well below the threshold of a reliable starting-caliber edge rusher. His trending grades — a C- in 2023, declining to a D+ in 2024, and bottoming out at a D- in 2025 — paint a concerning downward arc. The most glaring concern is his pass-rush production, where he's generating just 0.11 sacks per game against an NFL average of 0.34 and an elite benchmark of 0.68. That gap represents a significant fall-off for a player once projected as a double-digit sack threat. His tackling-for-loss rate of 0.33 per game is roughly average — barely edging the NFL benchmark of 0.30 — suggesting he can still disrupt backfield plays occasionally, though not consistently enough to justify a featured role. At 29, Davenport's window for a meaningful resurgence is narrowing fast, and his trajectory offers little optimism heading into 2026. The Lions will need to decide whether his veteran experience warrants a roster spot or if younger edge rushers can better serve the defense. The next season is essentially a prove-it campaign — if the sack rate doesn't climb back toward league average, his NFL future likely shifts to a depth rotational role at best.

Current Sentiment

Marcus Davenport enters the 2026 offseason as one of the more uncertain veteran pass-rushers in the NFC, with his Detroit Lions tenure defined more by durability concerns than consistent production. His placement on injured reserve with a chest injury late in the season reinforced a troubling pattern of availability issues that has followed him throughout his career. Media coverage heading into the new league year has been notably skeptical, with analysts openly questioning whether his physical warning signs have become too significant for a contending roster to absorb. At a modest $2.5 million salary, Davenport retains some value as a low-risk depth option, but his free agent profile suggests even the Lions are evaluating whether to move on rather than re-sign him. Fan sentiment mirrors the media tone — appreciation for his effort when healthy, but diminishing confidence that he can be a reliable contributor on a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.