Marcus Davenport has played in just 14 games in his last three years in the NFL. Injuries have been the villain in his story since he was drafted No. 14 overall in 2018, but the Chicago Bears still signed him to a one-year contract to join the team.
The former UTSA Roadrunner spent his first five seasons in New Orleans, where he overlapped with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. That's his main connection to signing with the Chicago Bears. He also spent a season on Detroit's roster when head coach Ben Johnson was the offensive coordinator.
Davenport is now in his ninth season in the league and has played in 77 games, registering 164 total tackles, 25 sacks, seven forced fumbles, four passes defensed, and one fumble recovery.
What Marcus Davenport can bring to the Bears in 2026
At 6-foot-6, 265 pounds, Davenport has the ideal size that Allen looks for in his defensive ends – a position group the Bears didn't address in free agency or the draft going into the 2026 NFL season. Those edge rushers also were inconsistent as a group when it came to applying pressure on the quarterback.
Davenport has a prime opportunity in front of him to showcase that he isn't just another forgotten first-round draft pick in a league that has so many players with that label. Allen told reporters on Wednesday at Halas Hall that Davenport has “always been a disruptive player,” calling him a "disruptive force." The Bears' defensive coordinator mentioned the edge rusher can penetrate the backfield, which isn't always reflected in the official stats.
Allen cited Davenport's “hidden production” as a way that has created opportunities for his previous teammates. If Davenport can help take attention away from defensive end Montez Sweat and allow Austin Booker to have more one-on-one opportunities, then he will be a welcome addition to the defensive line.
The joint practices and preseason games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans will be critical in the team's evaluation of the edge rusher. There's plenty of pressure on Davenport as an individual to produce, but that's also what the Bears desperately need more of from the defense. Last season, the Bears ranked towards the bottom of the league in many of the critical pass-rushing categories: 22 sacks (27th), 31.6% quarterback pressure rate (27th), 189 quarterback pressures (25), and 6.8 passing yards per play allowed (28th)
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Allen knows Davenport understands the mentality that is required to play in his defense. Now it's all on Davenport to maximize the opportunity in front of him.
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