DONE DEAL: Lions has Officially Completed and Sign Former First-Round Defensive End Away From Division Rival

According to Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network, the Lions have agreed to terms with defensive end Marcus Davenport, who will join Detroit on a one-year deal from the Minnesota Vikings. The deal adds some senior depth to the defence while addressing one of the team’s main areas of need.
Marcus Davenport reunites with former coaches.
The 27-year-old Davenport began his career with the New Orleans Saints, where current Lions head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn served as assistant coaches. According to Vito Chirco of SI.com, Davenport will join Detroit on a one-year contract worth up to $10.5 million in incentives.

As Chirco pointed out, Davenport was a good end for the Saints in 2021, with 9.0 total sacks, but his output has dropped in the last two seasons. Davenport’s ankle ailment restricted him to four games last season, but he still made seven total tackles with four sacks and had a 55.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
“In signing Davenport, the Lions are hoping the 6-foot-6, 265-pound defender reverts to his pre-Minnesota level of production,” he wrote. “If he does, he’ll be a valuable addition to the Lions’ defence. At this point, he projects as a rotational pass rusher for Detroit. And, if he can stay fit, he could be the ideal EDGE compliment to Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson.

Aside from Hutchinson’s contributions, the Lions struggled to generate a consistent pass rush. James Houston, a second-year edge rusher, failed to recreate his breakout rookie season, in which he recorded eight sacks in seven games.Houston missed the most of the season with a fractured ankle, appearing in only two games and recording one tackle.

Lions miss out on rumoured defensive line target.
The Lions were able to fix their defensive line by agreeing to terms with Davenport, but they missed out on another rumoured target when former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported earlier this week that the Lions were one among the clubs interested in Wilkins.

“After Chris Jones landed a big deal on Saturday night, Miami’s Christian Wilkins is likely to be a hot name, with contending teams such as the Texans and Lions looking to upgrade at that position,” Graziano noted in an email.

SI.com’s All Lions Christian Booher also stated that Wilkins “could be a game-changer for the Lions.”

“Wilkins will be a big addition wherever he winds up, and has the ability to be a difference-making element,” Booher said in a statement. “With the Lions’ needs, it would be a significant move that would signal Detroit’s desire to compete for a Super Bowl.”

The Lions remained relatively quiet when the NFL’s legal tampering window opened on March 11, signing Davenport and making a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to acquire veteran cornerback Carlton Davis.