The Detroit Lions tried everything in their power to make former first-round pick Mracus Davenport emerge as a solid complementary piece next to Aidan Hutchinson, but he never found the consistency and durability fans wanted to see.
Davenport has convinced one last team to take a chance on him, and it just so happens to be an NFC North rival. Davenport has agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears, who are full of many ex-Detroit staffers who crossed over with Davenport. The Bears' lack of defensive line depth will give Davenport a good chunk of snaps.
All of this is seemingly setting up a chance for Davenport to finally get the indestructible tendons and muscles he has looked his whole career for and humiliate the Lions whenever they play the Bears. Or, in keeping with how his career has gone to this point, he could spend most of it on the sidelines in shorts and a t-shirt. Only time will tell.
Former Detroit Lions pass rusher Marcus Davenport signs with Bears
Davenport has never played more than 15 games in a season during his eight-year career, and he's only managed to hit that target once. Davenport has been perpetually injured, only once amassing more than six sacks in that time due to a lack of availability. However, his size and run defense keep getting him second contracts.
In two years with the Lions, Davenport only managed 10 games, 16 tackles, and 1.5 sacks per game. When he was out there, it was rough. Davenport was ranked 103rd out of 115 defensive ends in the eyes of PFF, and he mustered just seven pressures on the year. Among qualified ends, that was the fewest recorded.
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The Lions will face Chicago with a much worse offensive line than they have had in past seasons. Left tackle Taylor Decker is no longer on the year, right tackle Blake Miller is a rookie, and center Cade Mays is going to miss the start of the season with an injury. Chicago is licking their lips.
If Davenport stays healthy and manages to look like the player New Orleans thought he would be, the Lions could have egg on their face. Shy of rookie Derrick Moore emerging as an immediate impact player despite being picked earlier than many believed he would, the Lions will enter the year with their pass rush hinging entirely on Hutchinson's brilliance.
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