2. DE Marcus Davenport
The Lions took a flier on Davenport in 2023 free agency, on the idea he would be a suitable running mate for Aidan Hutchinson. While his injury this year (arm/elbow) was fluky and the result of a dirty move by Cardinals' offensive tackle Paris Johnson, the bottom line is he didn't play after Week 3 and he has played in just six games over the last two seasons. He has also played more than 500 snaps just once in his seven NFL seasons.
The Lions generally aren't afraid to take a calculated risk on players who are coming off an injury or with durability concerns, and sometimes those fliers just don't work out (see Moseley). Davenport is easily headed for his fourth team in as many seasons next year.
1. S Ifeatu Melifonwu
To borrow a popular phrase, "hurt guys stay hurt." Injuries have been the No. 1 storyline through Melifonwu's four NFL seasons. This season an ankle/Achilles injury in training camp eventually landed him on IR, and Dan Campbell basically admitted he should have gone on IR sooner.
Then, as he was nearing a return to action, a finger injury landed Melifonwu back on IR before he finally made his season debut in Week 16. A finger injury is easy to lament as something he can play with, but Melifonwu later revealed his finger was dislocated so badly he had to have surgery.
Finally, in the playoff loss to the Commanders. Melifonwu suffered a hamstring injury and was unable to continue. A less than ideal finish to what was not an ideal final year of his rookie contract, to be sure.
Melifonwu has played just 37 of a possible 68 regular season games in his career, and when he played all 17 games in 2023 he was limited to special teams duty for a big chunk of it due to a hand injury.
Melifonwu showed what he can do during a breakout stretch late last season, but if the best ability is availability he has failed big-time there. The Lions won't make much effort to re-sign him.
feed