Marcus Davenport gives Bears another option at their thinnest position

The Chicago Bears ' edge-rusher depth was one of the biggest questions facing the team with two preseason games remaining. The team is trying to put an end to those questions by signing veteran edge rusher Marcus Davenport. 

Chicago Bears sign Marcus Davenport

Davenport is a former first-round pick, and he has a nine-sack season on his career resume. However, injuries have been the story of his career lately, which is why he was unsigned a few weeks before the regular season is set to start. 

Davenport had 20.5 sacks in his first four seasons in the NFL. It might not have been quite what he was expected to produce as a former first-round pick, but he was clearly a competent piece of the team.

However, he only had 0.5 sacks in his last year, causing the New Orleans Saints to let him walk in free agency. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings, but a high ankle sprain limited him to just one game. He had just two sacks.

Davenport signed with the Detroit Lions after that. He played in two games for them and had 0.5 sacks before a triceps injury ended his season. Davenport had one more year on his deal with Detroit. 

He posted just one sack and played in eight games, as he had chest and pectoral injuries. So, he went from 20.5 sacks in his first four years to four sacks in the four years following. 

He also went from playing in 48 games in four years to just 29 in the following four. So, he is not a lock to make the roster or make an impact if he does make the team.

However, the Bears have a serious need at edge rusher. They have Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Austin Booker. The room gets questionable after that. Shemar Turner is on PUP and is unlikely to be ready for Week 1.

James Lynch played some edge in the preseason, but is mostly an interior rusher. Jamree Kromah and Daniel Hardy have had moments in the preseason, but neither is trusted to make an impact on NFL Sundays. 

Kromah, Hardy, and Davenport will likely compete for the last spot in the preseason. Davenport’s experience likely gives him an edge, but the other two have more momentum on the practice field. We will see if Davenport can step up and stay healthy this year.

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