Lions to Sign DE Marcus Davenport

Lions agree to contract terms with former Vikings defensive lineman.

The Detroit Lions have made their first external commitment of the 2024 offseason. 

On Monday, which marked the start of the NFL's legal tampering period, reports indicated that the Lions have agreed to a contract with defensive end Marcus Davenport on a one-year deal. 

The 27-year-old had a disappointing 2023 season that was marred by injuries, only recording two sacks. 

The former first-round selection of the New Orleans Saints suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 6, and was then placed on injured reserve. In six NFL seasons, Davenport has collected 23.5 career sacks.

He has dealt with a variety of shoulder and hand injuries, and has had multiple offseason surgeries. 

The deal can become official on Wednesday, which marks the official beginning of free agency. In the legal tampering period, teams can negotiate deals through players' agents for two days before free agency officially starts. 

Lions general manager Brad Holmes entered the offseason with plenty of cap space to work with. Detroit has already committed to bringing back several of its free agents, including a deal with Graham Glasgow that was reported Monday. 

The #Lions have agreed to terms with DE Marcus Davenport on a one-year deal, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Following a year with the #Vikings, the former first-round pick of the #Saints moves elsewhere in the NFC North. pic.twitter.com/qIDilsGzth

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 11, 2024

Other Lions who are returning on new contracts include linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Michael Badgley, Emmanuel Moseley and Shane Zylstra. 

Detroit is looking to build on its momentum from last season, when the organization reached the NFC Championship Game and was a second-half collapse away from reaching the Super Bowl. 

As a result, the offseason could be an aggressive one for Holmes and the rest of the Lions' brass. 

The NFL increased the cap space available to teams early in the offseason, setting the mark at $255.4 million. It's the highest in NFL history, and offers teams like the Lions even more room to maneuver to make transactions. 

Detroit was able to generate more cap space by releasing Tracy Walker III in February.