Last offseason, the Minnesota Vikings took a gamble on Marcus Davenport’s fitness by signing the former New Orleans Saints first-round pick to their most substantial single-year contract, amounting to $13 million. This decision appeared questionable as Davenport’s season was marred by two ankle injuries,
limiting him to just two full games. However, the true magnitude of the blunder became evident when details of his contract were disclosed on The Star Tribune’s “Access Vikings” podcast. Reporters Andrew Krammer and Ben Goessling revealed that despite being on injured reserve, Davenport, the 28-year-old edge rusher, managed to collect the $2 million in per-game roster bonuses he was entitled to.
Davenport would only be exempt from receiving the roster bonuses if he suffered an injury to his shoulder, which had undergone two surgeries in 2022, as stated by Krammer.
Krammer pointed out that the Vikings were well aware of Davenport’s injury history when offering him the contract, indicating that they made an informed decision despite the known risks.
The signing appears unfavorable given Davenport’s limited playing time of 118 snaps this season. Goessling and Krammer express skepticism about the likelihood of Davenport being re-signed during the offseason.
Goessling emphasized that Davenport continues to receive the same payment even while on injured reserve, leading him to doubt the continuation of their relationship beyond the current year.
