The Chicago Bears made zero notable moves at edge rusher in the offseason, preferring to focus on the interior defensive line. Lots of people weren’t happy about that, believing they’re putting way too much faith in Austin Booker staying healthy and Dayo Odeyingbo looking any better than he did before tearing his Achilles last season. However, it seems their stance may have softened slightly, perhaps at the behest of defensive coordinator Dennis All. The Bears brought in a face he’s quite familiar with.
Marcus Davenport was a 1st round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2018. Big, strong, and athletic, he had all sorts of potential. Allen ended up developing him into a dynamic rusher. Davenport had 9 sacks in just 11 games in 2021. Unfortunately, things went wrong after that. He disappointed in 2022, left as a free agent the following year and hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Between 2023 and 2025, the defensive end has missed 37 games. It ranged from a severe high ankle sprain to a torn triceps in 2024 and a chest injury last season.
Still, the Bears have decided to bring him in for a visit.
Dennis Allen doesn’t need Davenport to be the main guy.
That is the key to remember here. The Bears have their two starters with Booker and Montez Sweat. Odeyingbo will rotate in that mix too, but he’s primarily a run defender who will shift inside on passing downs a lot. They still need somebody else who can give them a handful of quality rushes every game. Davenport might be a good fit for that role, which would reduce the wear and tear on his body. He is still only 29 years old, and most of his injuries have been to the upper body.
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The frustrating part from his perspective is that Davenport has been effective when on the field. Across the pass three seasons, he has 287 rushes. He has 21 total pressures on the quarterback from that. That includes 3.5 sacks and 7 quarterback hits. If you get that kind of production from a rotational pass rusher, you’re doing well as a defense. Dennis Allen knows this. He wouldn’t need Davenport to be a hero. Just line up 150-200 times this season and get after the quarterback.
Don’t overlook another key factor.
Davenport was also a really good run defender when he played for Allen in New Orleans. The Bears have struggled to stop the run. Having another big body with his power certainly wouldn’t hurt. All of this comes down to the medicals and how Davenport looks in the workout. If the team doesn’t believe he could hold up to the rigors of Ben Johnson’s physical practices, or they feel he’s not conditioned well enough, then it won’t matter. Still, the potential he could bring, even as a part-timer, would be helpful.
One can’t help but wonder why it took this long to make a move. Perhaps they wanted to see what they had in camp with their younger guys. Give them a chance to make an impression. Now that they have, the team believes another veteran body might be the ticket. It’s not like Davenport will be expensive.
