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Lions' Marcus Davenport agrees to 1-year contract before free agency: 'Big fan of here'
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- Lions' Marcus Davenport agrees to 1-year contract before free agency: 'Big fan of here'
Marcus Davenport 's first year with the Detroit Lions didn't go as planned. The Lions are counting on his second year being a whole lot better.
Davenport and the Lions agreed to a one-year deal Saturday, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Free Press, keeping the pass rusher from becoming an unrestricted free agent when the new league year opens next week. The person was granted anonymity because the deal was being finalized. NFL Network reported the contract is worth up to $4.75 million.
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One of the Lions' top offseason additions last spring, Davenport appeared in just two games and had a half sack before a torn triceps ended his season.
He told the Free Press after the season he and the Lions had positive conversations about returning in 2025.
"I'm a big fan of here. Real big fan," he said. "I would love to come back."
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Davenport, 28, said at the time his desire to return to Detroit was less about having unfinished business from last season and more about his appreciation for how the organization handled his injury, and his craving to play at least one more season after consecutive injury-riddled years.
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In 2023, Davenport was limited to four games with Minnesota by an ankle injury.
"I would say it's been a lot more selfish on I just want to play again," he said. "There's not a lot of things that are going to be able to fill that beyond getting to play and then trying to get to a level of just, I guess, maybe even a level of health to be able to."
The Lions went 15-2 last season despite losing six defensive starters to injured reserve. Davenport, fellow defensive linemen Aidan Hutchinson ( broken leg ) and Alim McNeill ( torn ACL ), cornerback Carlton Davis ( broken jaw ) and linebacker Derrick Barnes ( torn MCL and PCL ) finished the season on injured reserve, while linebacker Alex Anzalone ( broken forearm ) missed seven late-season games before returning in Week 18.
Barnes agreed to a new three-year contract to stay in Detroit on Friday, while Davis will be an unrestricted free agent Wednesday if he and the Lions can't agree on a new deal in the coming days.
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Davenport told the Free Press in January he expected to be fully healthy by March and should be able to take part in the Lions' offseason workout program. He has 24 sacks in 69 career games and should compete for the starting job opposite Hutchinson this fall.
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"I'm making good progress," Davenport said of his injury in January. "I'd say that my patience is not really there, but what I am getting, I'm just trying to push for more."
The Lions have 18 remaining unrestricted free agents .
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline," at 7 p.m., March 24, at the Birmingham Public Library. Order your copy here . Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky , X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Marcus Davenport and Lions agree to contract: 'I'm a big fan of here'
