Marcus Davenport

Davenport spent his first five seasons in New Orleans after the Saints drafted him with No. 14 overall in the 2018 draft. He will now get a fresh start in Minnesota where he projects to start at strongside linebacker.

Davenport has actually had good per-snap production since the Saints selected him 14th overall in the 2018 draft, but for various reasons the volume never accumulated. His 2021 was at once his most impressive (nine sacks in 417 snaps) yet most tormenting season, because what should have been a proper breakout was cut short by pectoral and shoulder injuries at separate points.

The Saints likely had a grander vision for Davenport before they traded up to draft him in 2018. With just 12 sacks in three seasons, it's safe to say he's been a disappointment. However, it may be too soon to call him a bust, as he finally will have a chance to blossom in 2021 with Trey Hendrickson out of the picture. Davenport also will be fully healthy after a Lisfranc injury impacted his readiness for the 2020 campaign. Still just 24, he could be on the cusp of his best football and has two more years to prove it after New Orleans picked up his fifth-year option this spring.

Davenport suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in December, which would make him 'questionable' for the start of a traditionally-timed training camp. It's not clear whether his recovery is erring toward the short or the longer end of his prognosis, but the injury is something that threatens to limit his availability early in the year and might affect his performance for some or all of the season. If Davenport can somehow secure full health, he would make for an interesting late-round IDP option. The former 14th overall pick out of UTSA is big (6-6, 264) yet boasts elite speed with a 4.58-second 40, and through 964 career snaps he has 53 tackles and 10.5 sacks.

The Saints' first-round pick last April, Davenport began his career in a rotational role along the defensive line. Though he only averaged 32 snaps in his 13 games, Davenport didn't need to play on a full-time basis for his pass-rushing skills to be evident. Per Pro Football Focus, Davenport was credited with 30 quarterback pressures on just 296 pass-rush attempts (10.1 percent). That sort of success rate bodes well for Davenport's chances of surpassing the 4.5 sacks he notched in 2018, especially with a major surge in playing time likely on the horizon. The Saints let veteran Alex Okafor walk in free agency this offseason, paving the way for Davenport to step into a starting role at defensive end opposite four-time Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan.

In the most stunning move of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Saints traded away a king's ransom to move up from pick No. 27 to No. 14 in order to draft Davenport out of tiny University of Texas-San Antonio. The 6-6, 265-pound defensive end has freakish speed for his size - he ran a blazing 4.58-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine - but even according to coach Sean Payton, Davenport may be a raw developmental project given the low level of his Conference USA competition. Moreover, the Saints re-signed Alex Okafor this offseason to complement All-Pro Cameron Jordan. Prior to tearing his Achilles last November, Okafor had been very good in his first season in New Orleans. Davenport has the prototypical size and athleticism to eventually be a major contributor, but given his lack of high-level experience and possible backup role, it's fair to wonder whether Davenport will be able to make an immediate impact as a rookie.