Former first-round pick Marcus Davenport is signing with the Minnesota Vikings.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Davenport and the Vikings have agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal. The 26-year-old was selected 14th overall by the Saints in the 2018 NFL Draft and totaled 21.5 sacks in five years with New Orleans.
The #Vikings are signing pass-rusher Marcus Davenport, sources tell me, @MikeGarafolo, and @TomPelissero. He gets a 1-year deal worth $13M. Impressive.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2023
He only had a half-sack last season, but posted a career-best nine sacks in 2021. He did that in just 11 games and also forced 3 fumbles and generated 16 quarterback hits.
The 6-foot-6 defensive end gives Minnesota another pass rusher to compliment Danielle Hunter, D.J. Wonnum and Patrick Jones II. Za’Darius Smith is also under contract with Minnesota, though it’s been reported that he’d prefer to be released.
Smith also put his Minnesota home up for sale last month.
Davenport is the second known signing by the Vikings, with the first being former Ravens tight end Josh Oliver.
