The Lions loved the way their defense looked last season when healthy. They're starting to reassemble it.
The second starter to return is Marcus Davenport, who has agreed to a one-year deal with Detroit worth up to $4.75 million, per NFL Network. The veteran defensive end played in just two games last year before a torn triceps ended his season.
In a related move, the Lions are releasing Za'Darius Smith, per ESPN. They traded for the three-time Pro Bowler at last year's deadline as a replacement for Davenport, for fifth- and sixth-round picks. Smith gave Detroit four sacks in eight games -- and 27 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Focus -- but won't be back. His $5.7 million cap hit will be erased from the Lions' books.
The Lions originally signed Davenport last offseason to be a physical edge rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson. He's a powerful pass rusher when healthy, but injuries have plagued him throughout his career. Detroit is betting that he can stay on the field this year after he missed most of the past two seasons. An ankle injury limited him to four games in 2023 with the Vikings.
Davenport's best season came in 2021 with the Saints when he had nine sacks and three forced fumbles in 11 games. The former first-round pick turns 29 in September. Smith, meanwhile, turns 33 in September, but has played in all but two games the past three seasons -- including 17 last year.
The Lions have also re-signed linebacker Derrick Barnes, who missed most of last season with a knee injury. While the defense faded down the stretch due to significant attrition, GM Brad Holmes said at the combine that when he was reviewing film of Detroit's Week 3 win over Arizona to scout a free agent on offense for the Cardinals, "That was really the first time that I had seen our defense at that time, and it was like, wow, I forgot how good it was."
"Not saying there wasn’t room for improvement, of course there was, there always is, but it was humming pretty good, both run and pass," said Holmes. "But when that attrition (happened) and a lot of long-term injuries, stuff that can go into the season, that does affect it."
The Lions allowed an average of 16.6 points through the first 11 games of the season, second best in the NFL. When losses at every level of the defense finally caught up to them, they allowed an average of 27.7 points over the final seven games (including their playoff loss to the Commanders), which would have been second worst over the duration of the season.
The Lions have also re-signed linebacker Ezekiel Turner to a one-year deal, his agent announced on Instagram. Turner bounced from the 49ers to the Texans to the Seahawks last season before joining the Lions in November and playing in nine games dwon the stretch.
Turner was one of several players the Lions imported as they tried to patch their defense together. He had 12 tackles and a half sack for Detroit, making most of his contributions on special teams.