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Report: Colts Sign Linebacker Sean Spence to a 1-Year Deal

By Luke Schultheis

Nov 6, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Tennessee Titans inside linebacker Sean Spence (55) looks across the line before the snap during the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Tennessee Titans inside linebacker Sean Spence (55) looks across the line before the snap during the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Indianapolis Colts have signed former Tennessee Titans linebacker Sean Spence to a 1-year, $3 million deal:

Originally a 3rd round pick of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 5’11”, 231 pound linebacker has 97 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 3 passes defensed, and 2 forced fumbles in 46 games (19 starts) during his 4-year career.

Jan 1, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans inside linebacker Sean Spence celebrates after the NFL game against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: George Walker IV/The Tennessean via USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans inside linebacker Sean Spence celebrates after the NFL game against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: George Walker IV/The Tennessean via USA TODAY Sports /

The former Miami Hurricanes standout is coming off a sole season with the Titans in which he recorded 54 tackles, 3.0 sacks, and a forced fumble in 15 games (6 starts).

Per Pro Football Focus (subscription), Spence was their 44th best rated linebacker last season with a +74.0 grade overall–including a +75.5 grade in pass coverage.

With just unproven players such as Antonio Morrison and Edwin ‘Pound cake’ Jackson, Spence should be a frontrunner to start at one of the Colts starting inside linebacker spots.

If nothing else, he gives the Colts veteran insurance and additional depth at the position, as a player who can contribute on special teams as well.

In recent seasons, the Colts inside linebackers have been rather ineffective in coverage over the middle of the field, and given his exceptional speed and aforementioned coverage grade, Spence theoretically should help significantly in that regard.

He is a bit undersized though at the position and is nothing more than serviceable as a run-stopper (at best), so Spence could be deployed purely situationally in passing packages instead.

It’s worth noting that the Colts recently let backup inside linebacker Josh McNary leave to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency and released veteran starter D’Qwell Jackson even earlier this offseason.

Next: Colts Re-Sign Veteran ‘Safety’ Darius Butler to a 1-Year Deal

The defense has struggled replacing departed starter Jerrell Freeman from an offseason ago (who was their best coverage linebacker), having shuffled through the likes of Nate Irving and Sio Moore in the process–both of whom are no longer even with the team.

Spence’s signing marks the latest addition by new general manager Chris Ballard to the Colts linebacker corps, as he’s already added Jabaal Sheard, John Simon, and Barkevious Mingo as part of his offseason overhaul of the position–bringing in much needed youth at the expense of aging veterans.

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