By Blessing 
Marcus Davenport Under Pressure as Lions’ Defensive Line Faces Big Questions
As the 2024 season approaches, Detroit Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport is feeling the heat—and so is the team’s pass rush.
In a conversation with SI.com’s John Maakaron, Davenport expressed high hopes for the unit, saying, “I think the Lions will have a top 5 defensive line unit during 2024.” It’s a bold claim, especially considering the state of Detroit’s edge rushers going into training camp.
The Lions have long been searching for a reliable partner opposite Aidan Hutchinson, but results have been mixed. Last season, veteran Za’Darius Smith stepped up when Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury, giving the team a boost off the edge. But Smith is no longer with the team, and currently remains unsigned. That departure leaves the Lions with more questions than answers.
Concerns at Edge: A Lingering Issue
NFL analyst Josh Edwards of CBS Sports recently ranked each NFC team’s biggest remaining defensive need. For the Lions, he didn’t hesitate—edge rusher was at the top of the list.
“Edge rusher was also given a lot of thought,” Edwards wrote. “Detroit moved on from Za’Darius Smith after acquiring him midseason, and Aidan Hutchinson is returning from a serious knee injury. The other pass rushers on the roster are Marcus Davenport and Josh Paschal. Davenport has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career and Paschal has been more of a stable run defender than one capable of providing explosiveness off the edge while also dealing with his own injuries.”
Davenport’s injury history is hard to ignore. He’s only played in six games over the last two seasons, including a brief two-game appearance with the Lions last year. The lack of consistency has cast doubt on whether he can be a dependable force on the edge.
A Role in Limbo
Christian Booher of SI.com echoed those concerns, noting that while the Lions did well at generating pressure, they struggled to close out plays with sacks. That’s where a healthy Davenport could make a difference—if he can stay on the field.
“Detroit’s defensive line did a good job of getting into the backfield, however, finishing plays with sacks proved to be a tough challenge,” Booher wrote. “A full season of Hutchinson and Davenport, the Lions hope, will yield different results.”
But Booher was quick to point out a troubling pattern: “Davenport has yet to play a full season since being drafted in the first round of the 2018 draft. Durability will be a major factor for him, as the best version of the Lions’ defense features a healthy version of him.”
Despite last season’s struggles to convert pressures into sacks—the team finished in the bottom third of the league—the Lions didn’t aggressively address the edge position in the draft. They waited until the sixth round to select an edge rusher, a move that raised eyebrows among analysts.
“Brad Holmes’ decision to wait until the sixth-round to draft an EDGE also puzzled some pundits, as that was viewed as their biggest area of need,” Booher added. “However, Holmes has traditionally been a very thorough evaluator and unwilling to compromise fit for need.”
Next Man Up?
With Smith still a free agent, many insiders believe a reunion is possible. But another name is starting to generate buzz: rookie Ahmed Hassanein.
Hassanein, if he impresses during training camp, could shake up the rotation and push for early snaps.
“This competition would get all the more intriguing if Ahmed Hassanein adapts quickly, as he has the relentless motor and toughness that would fit Detroit’s defensive style nicely,” Booher noted.
As the Lions gear up for training camp, the spotlight remains fixed on the defensive line. Davenport’s optimism about the unit’s potential will soon be tested on the field—along with his ability to stay there.