5 bold predictions for New Orleans Saints in 2021

3. Marcus Davenport will break out with eight sacks

Losing Hendrickson in free agency is a big blow to the Saints’ defense. His sack total may have overstated his overall impact to the team in 2020, but New Orleans still needs a pass rusher to step up and fill the void created by his departure.

Davenport is the guy that New Orleans wants to step up and become a playmaker. The franchise paid a steep price to acquire him in the 2018 draft and he hasn’t lived up to the hype. He only managed to notch 1.5 sacks last season in 11 games of action.

Hendrickson’s departure gives him another chance to grab a starting defensive end spot for his own. This might be his last shot to really cement his status as part of New Orleans’ nucleus moving forward.

The prediction here is for Davenport to finally turn his potential into production. He’ll get plenty of chances to rush the passer in 2021 and he’s going to cash enough of them in to total eight sacks. He may never become the star New Orleans thought he would become when they drafted him, but this is the year where he becomes a solid starter.