The Detroit Lions have agreed to re-sign defensive end Marcus Davenport for one year with a maximum value of $4.75 million.

Detroit Lions to Re-sign Marcus Davenport

The Detroit Lions are reportedly bringing back edge rusher Marcus Davenport on a one-year contract. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Davenport’s deal could be worth up to $4.75 million.

Last year, the Lions signed Davenport to a one-year contract with hopes that he would become a key starter alongside Aidan Hutchinson. Unfortunately, Davenport suffered a tricep injury that required surgery, limiting him to only two games. This injury was just the latest in a series of setbacks for the 28-year-old, who has played only six games over the last two seasons.

Despite his injury struggles, Davenport remains the type of player the Lions want opposite Hutchinson. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 265 pounds, Davenport plays a fast, physical brand of football and is effective both as a pass rusher and as an edge setter. His preseason performances left former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn optimistic about his potential impact on the team.

“This man fits exactly who we want to be on defense, especially playing outside of Hutch,” Glenn said. “He’s violent, physical, and an athletic big man who plays the game the right way. A player like that who can bull rush and collapse the pocket will help Hutch and the other players perform at a higher level.”

It’s unclear what kind of value the Lions are getting from Davenport’s new deal, as the “up to” $4.75 million suggests the contract includes a lot of incentives. Given that Davenport played very little last year, many of these incentives will likely be classified as “not likely to be earned,” which won’t impact the 2025 salary cap. We will update this post with more details once further contract information becomes available.

For more on the Lions’ free agency moves, check out our 2025 Detroit Lions offseason coverage.