Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Marcus Davenport
Rank:10
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 265 lbs
Experience: 6th year
College: UTSA
Stats (In NFL): 63 games played, 32 starts, 142 tackles, 21.5 sacks, 25.0 tackles for loss, 42 quarterback hits, 4 passes defended, 7 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 9
Kevin Fielder: 10
Judd Zulgad: 12
Saivion Mixson: 10
Average: 10.25
Best case scenario
Davenport finally lives up to his potential and becomes a top-10 sack guy.
When he was drafted in 2018, Davenport was a late riser out of UTSA. He dominated the Senior Bowl and the Combine with great performances and looked to be a great pass rusher. That hasn’t quite happened with consistency yet due to scheme and injuries. With him playing for Brian Flores, Davenport is going to be put in situations to thrive and having Danielle Hunter on the opposite side is a huge positive for him.
Worst case scenario
Injuries and inconsistencies continue to hinder Davenport.
Over the course of his career, Davenport has missed 19 total games and played the most games in his career last season with 15. That is a major hindrance to production and also raises more concerns about his long-term durability. The Vikings only signed Davenport to a one-year contract for this reason, and he could only be in Minnesota for a year because of that.
What to expect in 2023
If Davenport stays relatively healthy, he should have upward of 70 pressures based on his rate of pressure last season being tied for 12th in the at 17.6% per PFF. That type of production is huge, as pressures make more of an impact than anything else. Davenport is going to play at edge, but he can slide inside with his hand in the dirt and stand up in the A-gap. He has a skill set similar and more explosive than Za’Darius Smith, which should help the Vikings on defense this season.
Previous player profiles
90-Garett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-NaJee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-C.J. Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-T.J. Smith
72-Alan Ali
71-Josh Sokol
70-Blake Proehl
69-John Reid
68-Trishton Jackson
67-Kalon Barnes
66-Benton Whitley
65-Calvin Avery
64-Theo Jackson
63-William Kwenkeu
62-Sheldon Day
61-Tay Gowan
60-Ross Blacklock
59-Vederian Lowe
58-Jaren Hall
57-Nick Muse
56-Ivan Pace, Jr
55-Jalen Reagor
54-Luiji Vilain
53-Austin Schlottmann
52-Troy Dye
51-Olisaemeka Udoh
50-Nick Mullens
49-Kene Nwangwu
48-DeWayne McBride
47-Jaquelin Roy
46-Jay Ward
45-Brandon Powell
44-Troy Reeder
43-James Lynch
42-Greg Joseph
41-Johnny Mundt
40-Blake Brandel
39-Mekhi Blackmon
38-Chris Reed
37-Joejuan Williams
36-Ryan Wright
35-Esezi Otomewo
34-Jalen Nailor
33-Ty Chandler
32-Jonathan Bullard
31-D.J. Wonnum
30-Patrick Jones II
29-Andrew DePaola
28-Ed Ingram
27-Lewis Cine
26-Garrett Bradbury
25-C.J. Ham
24-Josh Metellus
23-Andrew Booth Jr.
22-Akayleb Evans
21-Jordan Hicks
20-Camryn Bynum
19-Khyiris Tonga
18-Dean Lowry
17-Brian Asamoah
16-Alexander Mattison
15-Jordan Addison
14-Josh Oliver
13-Ezra Cleveland
12-K.J. Osborn
11-Harrison Phillips
