4 noteworthy New Orleans Saints slated to hit free agency in 2023

3. Marcus Davenport

Trading up to draft Marcus Davenport in the first round of the 2018 draft was a surprising move by the Saints and it didn’t look like a good one after he struggled the first three years of his career. Davenport had the bust label ready for him entering the 2021 season so that’s why it was stunning when the team picked up the UTSA product’s fifth-year option.

Fortunately, the move now looks a little smarter, as Davenport put together the best year of his career in 2021. He had nine sacks and 39 tackles during 11 games last year, showcasing that he could be the kind of player the Saints envisioned when they spent the 14th overall pick on him four years ago.

The problem with Davenport throughout his career has been that he’s struggled to stay healthy. If he can’t avoid the injury bug again in 2022, it might be easier for New Orleans to hang onto him past this season.

If, however, Davenport has a season similar to this past year, it’ll be difficult for the black and gold to retain him. He’ll only be 26 years old when he hits free agency and teams won’t care about the three not-so-great seasons. They’ll focus on his better years, and for good reason.

A year ago, fans might not have cared about Marcus Davenport eventually hitting free agency but after seeing what he can do this past year, it’ll be a bigger loss for them if he does sign elsewhere.