Stay or Go: Colts Free Agency 2017 Edition

Erik Walden, Outside Linebacker

Initially the most maligned signing of the Colts 2013 free agency class, outside linebacker Erik Walden is now the only player still remaining for Indianapolis.

Having been brought into to ‘set the edge’, Walden actually emerged this season as a pass rusher for the Colts with a career high of 11.0 sacks to go along with 42 tackles and 3 forced fumbles–making all 16 starts.

For perspective, his 11.0 sacks are the same amount as premier pass rushers such as Chandler Jones, Ryan Kerrigan, and Khalil Mack had, while he had more sacks than Brian Orakpo, Carlos Dunlap, Melvin Ingram, and Bruce Irvin among others.

That being said, there’s some ‘buyer beware’ here, as Walden had never previously had a double digit sack season–having never had more than 6.0 sacks in a season.

Set to turn 32 years old early next season, it’s a fair question of whether Walden is emerging as a pass rusher or whether last season was simply an aberration of sorts.

Per Pro Football Focus (subscription), it looks as though Walden’s loft sack total may have simply been the byproduct of being at the ‘right place, right time’. Specifically, his +41.2 pass rushing grade is just the 84th best among all ‘edge defenders’.

Likewise, his highly regarded ‘edge-setting’ ability didn’t necessarily translate onto the field either, as the veteran ranked 101 among 107 qualifiers with a +39.4 run stopping grade.

It doesn’t mean that Walden hasn’t been a serviceable starter for the Colts, as 11.0 sacks are still 11.0 sacks–and he’s only missed 4 starts over just as many seasons in Indianapolis.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t necessarily seem prudent for the Colts to pay Walden based purely off last season’s sack total, as he’s never demonstrated such double digit sack ability in the past.

Next: Colts take OLB Takk McKinley in Kiper’s Mock 1.0

If Walden is getting closer to the $4M salary he made last season, a deal could clearly make sense for the Colts–who may not have a returning starter at outside linebacker otherwise.

However, as mentioned, the defense still needs to get younger and more athletic so investing a lucrative multi-year contract into a 9-year veteran coming off a career season may not necessarily be a recipe for success going forward–especially since his sack total may have been better than his on the field performance actually indicated.