The Minnesota Vikings bolstered their front seven Monday night.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Vikings signed Marcus Davenport to a one-year, $13 million deal. The pass-rusher will look to make quarterbacks less comfortable against last year’s second-worst defense.
The New Orleans Saints traded up to the 14th pick to draft Davenport in 2018. He hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, recording 142 tackles and 21.5 sacks in five seasons. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound defender has started 32 of 63 games played.
Davenport tallied just 0.5 sacks in 2022 after collecting a career-high nine in 11 games the previous season. However, he still had 14 pressures and eight quarterback hits.
The former UTSA standout will receive a raise from last year’s $9.6 million fifth-year option. He’ll look to further bolster his value when re-entering the market next offseason.
Davenport, who turns 27 shortly before the 2023 season begins, still possesses plenty of potential despite never putting the full puzzle together.