The Indianapolis Colts must find some edge rush help in free agency, especially as the team is likely to lose a couple of its own free agents. Or, at least, Indy should. Samson Ebukam and Tyquan Lewis should be allowed to walk away, but general manager Chris Ballard should bring back a familiar face.
Al-Quadin Muhammad has been with Indianapolis twice before, and he was pretty good in 2021. The 30-year-old is also entering free agency after having his best season in 2025. While with the Detroit Lions, Muhammad had 11 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, and nine tackles for loss. All were career highs.
All of those statistics would have also ranked first or second for Indianapolis this season, too. Of course, Muhammad could regress in 2026, but if he signs with the Colts, at least not a ton of money would need to be spent. According to Spotrac, Muhammad's market value is expected to be just $16.5 million total over two years.
Indianapolis Colts should bring edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad back again
For a potentially explosive edge rusher, $8.25 million a season would be a steal. Muhammad could easily outplay that, and still cost around what Lewis and Ebukam played for in Indy.
Indianapolis fans likely know Muhammad well. He has been with the Colts two different times. The first was from 2018 through 2021, after he had been a sixth-round draft pick for the New Orleans Saints in 2017. In his one season as a full-time starter for Indianapolis (2021), he had six sacks and 13 quarterback hits.
He returned in 2023 after spending a season with the Chicago Bears, but that was a troubled season for Muhammad. He spent time on the practice squad, but he was also suspended for six games for failing a drug test. The last two seasons he has spent with the Detroit Lions.
His 2025 was certainly an outlier as his raw statistics jumped quite a bit, but there is no reason to think he can come close to replicating the numbers in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's system. While the DC's inside linebackers have struggled in his scheme, some edge rushers have had massive success.
Trey Hendrickson, for instance, had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons under Anarumo with the Cincinnati Bengals. Hendrickson wasn't as productive this season, a year that was affected by injury, even in seven games. Maybe he missed Anarumo.
In other words, maybe Al-Quadin Muhammad would leave the Lions in free agency, sign with the Indianapolis Colts, be a great fit in Anarumo's system, and come close to his 2025 numbers while taking some of the attention away from Laiatu Latu. That would make Muhammad a perfect signing.