Report: Colts Sign Bengals Defensive End Margus Hunt
According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the Indianapolis Colts have signed Cincinnati Bengals free agent defensive end Margus Hunt to a 2-year deal:
Source: DE Margus Hunt agreed to terms on a 2 year deal with the Indianapolis Colts
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2017
New #Colts DE Margus Hunt, who visited IND today, saw his most extensive action with the #Bengals this year. He gives Indy more edge help
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2017
The 29 year old reportedly visited the Colts on Monday, and here’s our initial scouting report:
"Dec 24, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Margus Hunt (99) celebrates with defensive end Michael Johnson (90) after a play during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY SportsOriginally a 2013 2nd round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals, the 4th-year pro is most known for being unusually tall at a ‘power forward-esque’ 6’8″, also weighing 295 pounds, and earning the nickname ‘The Estonian Giant”–having been born in Karksi-Nuia, Estonia.It’s worth noting that Hunt was also a world junior record holder in discus throw, as he has competed in World Junior Championships previously–even winning gold medals in 2006. He’s fresh off of a season with the Bengals in which he recorded 17 tackles and 2 passes defensed in 15 games. In his 4-year career with Cincinnati, Hunt has 29 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 3 passes defensed in 44 career games.Per Pro Football Focus (subscription), Hunt was rated as their 62nd best ‘edge defender’ with a +68.3 grade overall–including a +77.3 run defense grade."
As such, Hunt could prove to be a situational run-stopper along the defensive line for the Colts in time.
Having recently let Zach Kerr leave through free agency, the Colts could be looking to bolster their defensive line depth all together. Perhaps, Indianapolis even envisions him as a stand-up 3-4 outside linebacker–given his special athletic characteristics.
New general manager Chris Ballard has preached about making the Colts roster more competitive from top-to-bottom from the 53-man active roster to the practice squad, and this could be another step toward his ultimate vision.
If nothing else, Hunt’s unique height at 6’8″ makes him an interesting defensive lineman for the Colts–even if he hasn’t lived up to his ‘freakish athletic ability’ quite yet.
[Per his NFL.com draft profile, Hunt once ran a 4.60 forty time and had 38 bench press reps at 6’8″, 277 pounds during the NFL Combine in 2013.]
Next: Report: Dontari Poe’s ‘Free Agency Tour’ Continues, Meaning Colts Still in Hunt
Worst case, he’s just a backup for Indianapolis, and there’s ‘no harm, no foul’, as Ballard took a chance on another once highly touted athletic defensive prospect–similarly to recently signed Barkevious Mingo in that regard.
Hunt should also contribute immediately on special teams, as he apparently had 17 blocked kicks in four years at SMU–meaning he could be a ‘secret weapon’ for the Colts of sorts.