Detroit Lions Draft Profile: Pass Rusher Marcus Davenport

As the 2018 NFL Draft gets closer and closer, we’ll continue to preview potential draftees for the Detroit Lions. DE Marcus Davenport is this week’s focus.

As I have said on this site over and over again, the Detroit Lions need to improve upon their defense if they want to get back to the playoffs. It’s as simple as that.

This defense was no where near being elite last year. Statistically, it wasn’t even considered average, as they allowed too many yards per game (355.8) and too many points per game (23.5).

New head coach Matt Patricia proved to be more than capable architect on the defensive side of the football. He has already announced that he will fit his scheme to his players, putting a focus on the athleticism and skill set of his defensive studs.

Whether the Lions run a 3-4, 4-3, or a hybrid of the two, Patricia will need athletic defensive linemen that can use their quick reflexes and ridiculous length to let his defense thrive. That’s where pass rushers like Marcus Davenport come in.

The most enticing thing about Davenport seem to be his sheer size, as they are almost alien. He stands at 6-feet-6 inches tall, and weighs 264 pounds to go along with his super long arms (33.625 inches) and enormous hands (9.12 inches across).

But what is important than his length is what Davenport is able to do it. He pairs his incredible size with some impressive. He ran a 4.58 40 yard dash and had a 124 inch broad jump, which ranked 1st and 2nd amongst defensive ends in each respective category at the combine.

Davenport clearly knows how to use his length on the football field. In a November piece previewing his draft potential l by CBSSports’s Chris Trapasso, he displays little clips of Davenport, in which he uses his abnormal length and a great first step to brush off offensive linemen and become a quarterback’s worst nightmare.

It’s because of these skills that Davenport was a force to reckon with in Conference USA last season. The former roadrunner posted a career high 30 solo tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in his senior season, proving his draft stock in his last year of eligibility.

Drawing many comparisons to Detroit Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, Davenport has that big play ability and drive to get past offensive tackles and create trouble in the backfield.

At the moment, Davenport seems to be the consensus mock draft pick for the Lions, as Pride of Detroit found his name in 60 mock drafts all across the world wide web. And most mock drafts that don’t have him going to Detroit have taken five or six picks ahead of him, proving that all the draft experts think highly of him.

Davenport is, however, not the perfect prospect. It is unclear whether his drive displayed in the pass rush is evident in the running game, as he appears to take some plays off on defense and lacks a counter move if his move from his first step is well blocked.

Playing in Conference USA, Davenport wasn’t exactly facing a slate of world beaters when it came to the offenses he faced in college. Hopefully he can translate his skills into the pro level, which features offensive linemen who are much bigger and much smarter.

Despite these few negatives, it’s hard not to like Davenport as a prospect. He appears to be made out of stone, is lightning quick and possesses the same chip-on-his-shoulder mentality that most small school guys seem to inherit.

And I mean, just look at the below highlights. This man has a rare combination of size and speed that would have any NFL fan salivating. Patricia has been known for getting the best out of his guys, so perhaps when drafted, Patricia can push Davenport to give his all every play and will find a way to use his massive frame in his defensive scheme.

Next: Detroit Lions - Draft looms large after free agency flurry

When the draft finally arrives in a little over a month (!!!), Detroit Lions fans should be crossing their fingers and hoping a player like Davenport falls into their laps. He has the ability to shift an entire defensive line, and may be feared by NFL quarterbacks for years to come.