Indianapolis Colts fans have been waiting with great anticipation for the team to reach agreements on contract extensions with some of their homegrown stars.
It’s possible all of Darius Leonard, Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith will have fresh deals in place before the start of next season, though Nelson’s could come next offseason after the Colts make the no-brainer decision to pick up the star guard’s fifth-year option.
Up until recently, we’d heard no reports to suggest any deals are imminent, but that changed quickly on Wednesday after the 49ers and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner agreed to terms on a five-year, $95 million extension, which includes $40.5 million guaranteed.
Just minutes after that deal was reported, ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted that the Colts and Leonard are working on a four-year deal worth more than $19 million annually.
Next linebacker up for a new deal is Indianapolis’ Darius Leonard, a contract is that is expected to be a four-year deal for north of $19 million per year, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 21, 2021
The Colts and Darius Leonard are reportedly nearing an extension.
If Schefter’s intel is accurate (has he ever not been accurate?), Leonard signing for north of $19 million per year would make him the highest-paid linebacker in the league. After all, Warner’s extension has an AAV of $19 million and that made him the wealthiest LB.
Since superstars Khalil Mack and Von Miller fall more into the pass rusher category than linebacker, Bobby Wagner previously sat at the summit for the position at $18 million. It seems like Leonard is poised to clear that figure with relative ease, and nobody deserves it more.
Very few linebackers mean more to their team’s success than Leonard, who’s compiled 416 tackles (26 for loss), 15 sacks, 17 QB hits, seven interceptions, 22 passes defended, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries over his first three seasons.
Those stats further prove Leonard is the most complete linebacker in the NFL. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year is also a class act, as evidenced by his congratulatory tweet to Warner after he caught wind of the news on Wednesday afternoon.
Congratulations my guy!!! https://t.co/5F5m9NtOAj
— Darius Shaquille Leonard (@dsleon45) July 21, 2021
That’s everything you could want in a franchise player, folks. Was that sent from the negotiation table?
Leonard’s been instrumental in the Colts’ turnaround over the last three years, too. If you recall, Indy finished 4-12 the season before he was drafted in the second round back in 2018.
After his arrival, the Colts improved their win total by six before regressing in 2019 after franchise quarterback Andrew Luck retired. Of course, Indianapolis would right the ship last campaign, posting 11 wins for the first time since their wildly successful 2014 season.
Keep those notifications turned on, Colts fans, because it seems like a matter of time until Indianapolis and Leonard finalize the terms of this mammoth extension.
Colts: Darius Leonard’s journey from ‘worst pick in draft’ is still amazing
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard's journey from being the "worst pick" in the 2018 draft is still mind-blowing.