The Indianapolis Colts have had a more successful free agency term than fans would usually have expected, making several big signings and letting several free agents walk. The biggest news has been the signing of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones, who will ostensibly compete with Anthony Richardson for the QB1 job, but one of the biggest needs the Colts have to address is defense. They have problems in multiple areas, and are in desperate need to depth. So today's news definitely will strike a blow to Colts fans.
Eric Woodyard reported that Grant Stuard has signed a one-year deal to join the Detroit Lions.
"#Lions are signing former Colts LB Grant Stuard on a one-year deal, as first reported byEric Woodyard
@DetroitPodcast."
Stuard, a linebacker, has shown enormous talent this season, despite being previously nicknamed "Mr. Irrelevant." Stuard was chosen as the final pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, signing a four-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Within a year, he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, where he originally started on special teams, but proved to be a key member of the defense in 2024.
He had 40 tackles, with one career day in particular coming in the Colts' game against the Miami Dolphins. Stuard had 19 total tackles in one game alone, the highest of any member of the NFL in one game for the entire 2024 season.
Losing Stuard makes the Colts' need for a linebacker even more dire. He wasn't the only free agent potentially leaving Indianapolis - E.J. Speed is a free agent as well - leaving just Zaire Franklin and Jaylon Carlies. Franklin is known to be an elite-level linebacker, issues off the field nonwithstanding, but Carlies is still a rookie who has a long way to go to prove himself. He also missed a decent chunk of the season due to injury.
So if the Colts already needed more depth at linebacker, they need even more now. The only decent option left in free agency is the Dallas Cowboys' Eric Kendricks, and if the Colts don't pick him up, then they will need to find one in the draft.