The Indianapolis Colts will have some big decisions to make this offseason when it comes to re-signing players but none have emerged as important as defensive tackle Grover Stewart.
Enjoying an elite season, Stewart has proven to the Colts that he is a stalwart in the middle of the defensive line. He’s capable of wrecking the best of rushing attacks in the NFL, and the Colts are going to have to pay up this offseason.
As Stewart is in a contract year, the 27-year-old is just entering his prime as a nose tackle. While he isn’t focused on any contract talks during the season, Stewart told the media on Tuesday that he would love to return to the team that drafted him.
Grover Stewart says he's not thinking about being a free agent at the end of the year: "I'd love to stay in Indianapolis."
— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) November 17, 2020
Stewart has been elite this season. There’s no way around it. He and DeForest Buckner have become an incredible duo on the interior—deserving of much credit to the defense’s performance this season.
A product of the Division-II Albany State, Stewart’s 11.3% run-stop percentage is 11th-best among interior defenders while his 18 run stops are the third-highest. He’s been one of the best nose tackles in the league when it comes to stopping the run.
Some of his developments can be attributed to simply getting used to the league and improving his game. But another aspect of it comes from dropping weight during the offseason. It made a substantial change even though he feels he was able to keep his strength.
“I felt that if I lost weight that I could move quicker and still have my strength. I always want to move like a little guy – always consider myself small so losing weight was a big thing for me. I gained muscle and dropped a lot of fat so I really helped myself out in the long run,” Stewart said. “I came in at like 345 and I got all the way down to like 308.”
The Colts defense has been proving they are elite for the majority of the season. They get another test in the Packers in Week 11 but with Stewart clogging the holes on the interior, they will always have a chance to control the trenches.
It will be interesting to see when the Colts start their contract talks with Stewart, but a big payday should be expected.
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