The Indianapolis Colts may be in for a dramatic offseason overhaul after missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
While it is unclear what will happen under the present regime of general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen, there is expected to be significant roster upheaval.
Part of that effort includes declining to renew some expired contracts. Among those guys is linebacker E.J. Speed, who is in the final year of a two-year, $8 million contract.
Given the possibility that Speed will leave in free agency, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report believes the Kansas City Chiefs could be a landing point this offseason.
“The Chiefs could draft a linebacker to replace Bolton, but expecting a rookie to start in his first season is always risky.” They should be looking for affordable veteran linebackers as a backup plan. E.J. Speed is ideal. The 29-year-old has been reliable in the middle of the Colts defense and he may be hungry to play on a contender,” Ballentine wrote.
Speed has been a productive linebacker for the Colts since he was selected in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Tarleton State.
He took over a regular starting role in 2023 where he posted career-high marks — at the time — in tackles (102), solo tackles (78), tackles for loss (12), passes defensed (four) and forced fumbles (three).
He’s having another solid season in 2024 with another career-high tackles (134) and solo tackles (87).
The Colts defense may undergo significant changes this offseason, and it would not be surprising if the linebacker room was one of the positions renovated.
