By Moses Joshua 
Marcus Davenport Faces Growing Doubts as Detroit’s Defensive Line Faces Major Questions
Pass Rush in Peril: Lions Still Searching for Stability Opposite Hutchinson
As the Detroit Lions gear up for a pivotal 2025 season, all eyes are on their defensive front — and not for the right reasons. While Aidan Hutchinson remains the anchor of the Lions’ pass rush, questions continue to swirl around who will line up opposite him when training camp kicks off.
Veteran edge rusher Marcus Davenport finds himself at the center of scrutiny, with analysts and fans alike voicing concerns about his health, consistency, and overall role in Detroit’s defense. After years of searching for a reliable bookend to Hutchinson, the Lions appear no closer to a definitive answer.
CBS Sports: “Edge Still Detroit’s Biggest Weakness”
CBS Sports analyst Josh Edwards did not hold back when evaluating Detroit’s defense, labeling edge rusher as the team’s most glaring vulnerability entering the new season.
“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.”
Davenport and fellow edge defender Josh Paschal were specifically named as liabilities. Davenport, who has been riddled with injuries, has played in just six total games over the past two seasons, including only two appearances for Detroit in 2024. Meanwhile, Paschal has carved out a niche as a dependable run defender, but has yet to emerge as a true pass-rushing threat.
A Risky Bet on Health and Potential
The Lions’ coaching staff remains hopeful that Davenport can finally stay healthy and produce at the level he once showed in flashes with the Saints. But as Sports Illustrated’s Christian Booher notes, history is not on his side.
“Davenport has yet to play a full season since being drafted in the first round of the 2018 draft,” Booher wrote. “Durability will be a major factor for him, as the best version of the Lions’ defense features a healthy version of him.”
Detroit finished near the bottom third of the league in sacks last season — a stunning stat for a defense built on physicality and backfield pressure. Yet the front office, led by general manager Brad Holmes, opted against using premium draft capital on the edge position. The team waited until the sixth round to select rookie Ahmed Hassanein, a high-motor prospect who could challenge for meaningful snaps if he impresses during camp.
Za’Darius Smith Still in Play?
With training camp on the horizon and questions looming large, many insiders believe a reunion with Za’Darius Smith could be in the cards. Smith provided a much-needed boost last season and remains unsigned, offering Detroit a familiar and proven option.
Still, if the Lions choose to move forward with Davenport as the presumptive starter, it will be a gamble — one that could define the ceiling of their 2025 defense.
For now, the countdown to camp continues, but one thing is clear: Marcus Davenport’s leash will be short, and the competition in the trenches could be the most telling battle of the summer in Detroit.
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