The Minnesota Vikings are anticipated to sever ties with Marcus Davenport, their first-round pick, following a disappointing $13 million investment that backfired due to his persistent injuries.
Despite signing Davenport to a substantial one-year contract, his limited playing time this season due to ankle injuries exposed the imprudence of the deal.
In a recent podcast, reporters Andrew Krammer and Ben Goessling disclosed a crucial detail about Davenport’s contract—specifically, his ability to collect $2 million in per-game roster bonuses even while on injured reserve.
The only condition that exempted Davenport from receiving these bonuses was if he sustained an injury to his shoulder, a problem he had undergone surgery for twice in 2022. Krammer emphasized that the Vikings were fully aware of Davenport’s injury history when they decided to offer him the contract.
The optics of the situation are unfavorable, with Davenport playing a mere 118 snaps this season, and there is skepticism from Goessling and Krammer about the likelihood of Davenport being re-signed in the upcoming offseason.
The decision to sign Davenport was prompted by the Vikings’ predicament in the edge rusher position. With Za’Darius Smith seeking a new contract and Danielle Hunter’s uncertain future with the team due to trade rumors, the Vikings were under pressure to bolster their edge rusher room.
However, the move proved to be a desperate one that went awry, compounded by the fact that the funds allocated to Davenport could have been used to secure Hunter on a long-term deal.
Looking ahead, the Vikings face the challenge of replenishing their edge rusher ranks, given the impending expirations of contracts for D.J. Wonnum, Hunter, and Davenport. Limited draft picks in the early rounds pose a difficulty, with the team also in need of a future quarterback in the first round.
The alternative could be venturing down a similar path as the Davenport deal—considering signing a veteran edge rusher in free agency, with Chase Young being a potential candidate due to his former first-round status and manageable contract valuation by Over The Cap at $15.28 million per year in 2023.
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