If you look at Individual positions, then units, you are oversimplifying things. Having great DBs can help an average line get more sacks by forcing a QB to hold the ball longer. Likewise, having great LBs can add to pressure on the QB as well. Your comparison of Cincy and the Saints in sacks from last year only tells me that the Saints had better all defensive performance than Cincy did. That was obviously aided by the Saints having a better offense. Time will obviously be the judge, and I’m not predicting Rex gets the same sack total, but your analysis is an oversimplification.

I kept it simple for brevity. Of course there are other factors involved. But the premise still remains that Hendrickson is not in the situation to come close to repeating his numbers from last season and thus my questioning his being voted into the 2021 top 100 list. There was no psychological reason for my coming to that conclusion as you alluded. Believe me, I'm not the only one that see it that way. I've heard no less than three separate detailed preseason analysis of defensive line groupings team by team and basically the same thing was pointed out by all concerning Hendrickson's impact this coming season.

Fair enough, but them signing Trey could help their D line tremendously even without him getting double digit sacks. Paying a low pick guy who worked his way up through hustle and effort to land a big contract is not a bad idea IMO.

Dusting off my psyche books since you asked, I propose your repeated belittling of Trey is a form of displaced hostility towards Davenport. Fact is, when weighed against the low draft pick spent on Trey vs the much higher picks spent on Marcus, Hendrickson has been a much better player and has much higher production so far in their careers. You don’t like when people point out “mistakes” the team has made in the past. So, this one sticks with you and you transfer the aggression to the guy no longer on the team.

I haven’t practiced psyche in a few years, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express before ! 🤪

Nope. Not at all. However, I wouldn't be surprised if/when Davenport puts up the same or better numbers than Hendrickson last year. He's not going to be relegated to playing the run as much and should be in there opposite Jordan in far more passing situations. Since, as you also pointed out, sacks are really a team stat those sock numbers have to go somewhere and Davenport is the logical recipient.

I hope Davenport has a hell of a year.