<p>NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Saints have exercised the fifth-year option on defensive end and 2018 first-round draft choice Marcus Davenport, general manager Mickey Loomis said Thursday.</p>
<p>The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Davenport, for whom the Saints traded up to draft 14th overall out of Texas-San Antonio, has played in 37 games with 14 starts and has 12 1/2 career sacks.</p>
<p>Davenport played in 11 games with one start last season after missing the first four weeks of the season with an elbow injury. He made 22 tackles in 2020, including 1 1/2 sacks.</p>
<p>The move keeps Davenport in New Orleans for the next two seasons, barring a trade. He’s due a base salary of $2.35 million this coming season and $9.55 million in 2022.</p>
<p>The deadline to exercise fifth-year options on 2018 draft choices is May 3. </p>
<p>During the current free agency period, the Saints lost defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who was the club’s sack leader last season with a career-high 13 1/2 and has signed with Cincinnati.</p>
<p>Davenport is a projected starter next season along with 10-year veteran end Cameron Jordan.</p>
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