Lions take one-year flier on edge rusher Marcus Davenport

After re-signing guard Graham Glasgow in the morning, the Detroit Lions mostly sat out the first day of NFL free agency. But just in time for writers who cover the team to consider dinner plans, they've made a move.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Lions have agreed to terms with edge rusher Marcus Davenport to a one-year deal.

Update, 7:35 p.m. ET: Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has reported it's a one-year, $6.5 million deal for Davenport, worth "up to" $10.5 million.

Davenport signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings last offseason, and he followed with a disappointing season where he had two sacks in just four games as a high ankle sprain sidelined him for the final 11 games. He has played more than 13 games just once in six NFL seasons.

Davenport was drafted 14th overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2018 draft. There's where his tie to the Lions comes in, as head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn were on Sean Payton's coaching staff in New Orleans for the first three years of Davenport's career.

Detroit Lions take flier on edge rusher Marcus Davenport

Davenport (6-foot-6, 265 pounds) is fully capable of getting after the quarterback and being a stout run defender. His best season came in 2021, when he had nine sacks, nine tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in 11 games.

But amid all the injuries he's dealt with (hand, shoulder, foot/ankle), Davenport has topped 500 defensive snaps one in his six seasons. Last year's particularly injury-marred campaign lined him up to have to take a one-year prove-it deal in free agency, and the Lions gave it to him.

The Lions need all the pass rush help they can get, and their edge rusher group is in line for turnover. Davenport can only help there, even in a likely part-time role, and he should fit well into Glenn's defensive scheme.

The deal with Davenport can't be official until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.