By Moses Joshua 
Can Marcus Davenport Finally Rewrite His Narrative in Detroit?
The Detroit Lions have built a roster around physical dominance, leadership, and calculated risk-taking. Few players represent that risky potential more than EDGE rusher Marcus Davenport. Once a first-round pick brimming with promise, Davenport now enters 2025 not as a guaranteed starter—but as a wildcard. His talent is undeniable. His availability? That’s been the question.
This season might just be the final chapter in a career long defined by “what ifs.”
The Talent Is Real. The Track Record Isn’t.
From the moment Davenport was drafted 14th overall by the New Orleans Saints in 2018, expectations ran high. And for good reason. The University of Texas at San Antonio standout was a disruptive force in college, notching 21.5 sacks and being named C-USA Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. His early NFL years offered flashes of dominance—none more evident than his breakout 2021 campaign with 9.0 sacks and elite win and pressure rates per PFF.
But for every explosive edge rush came a sideline stint. Davenport has missed a staggering 45 games over eight NFL seasons, suiting up in just 67 of a possible 112 contests. The injury log is long: thumb surgery, shoulder problems, a foot injury, high ankle sprains, and a torn triceps that ended his 2024 season just as it began.
It’s not his skill set in doubt—it’s his durability.
Detroit’s Gamble, Round Two
When Detroit first signed Davenport in 2024 to bolster their pass rush alongside Aidan Hutchinson, hopes were high. The experiment lasted barely two weeks before a triceps tear sidelined him for the rest of the year.
Now, Brad Holmes is doubling down. Re-signing Davenport this offseason to a one-year, $3.65 million incentive-laden deal signals two things: the Lions still believe in his upside—and they know it’s a gamble.
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has noticed a change in the veteran’s approach this offseason. “He’s training right now like he plans on being in the season in November and December,” Sheppard told Sports Illustrated. “He’s all in… I have full faith in that player.”
Davenport’s new frame might be part of the reason. Up nearly 70 pounds from his college weight, the 6’6” pass rusher now tips the scales at 285 lbs—an effort to reinforce his body against the grind of a full NFL season. And according to position coach Kacy Rodgers, the potential is still there. “Some of the things he gets hurt (on) are just freaky. I’m sitting here watching the few games before he got hurt, and he was playing dominant.”
A Make-Or-Break Season—With Playoff Stakes
In 2025, the Lions aren’t building for the future. They’re contending now. That means Davenport isn’t just being asked to rotate in on third downs—he’s expected to be a difference-maker across 17 games and into the postseason.
When healthy, he brings rare athleticism off the edge. His 2021 PFF pass rush grade of 81.0 speaks to that disruptive ability. But the Lions don’t need a six-game stretch of brilliance. They need consistency, availability, and a full season of impact opposite Hutchinson.
If Davenport holds up physically, Detroit’s pass rush could go from good to elite. If he breaks down again, the Lions may be forced to scramble for depth in a critical window.
Boom or Bust? The Verdict Is Coming
There are few players in the league with as much to prove in 2025 as Marcus Davenport. His journey has been marked by promise, interrupted by injury, and sustained by belief—belief that this could be the year he stays on the field and wreaks havoc like he was always meant to.
Brad Holmes, Kelvin Sheppard, and Kacy Rodgers all see something worth betting on.
Now, it’s up to Davenport to make them right.
Would you like a follow-up piece on Aidan Hutchinson’s role in this EDGE
duo or how Detroit’s pass-rushing depth charts out behind them?