Even with a pair of promising young edge rushers, the Indianapolis Colts could be in the market to add a defensive end in free agency. Could this make Arik Armstead a target?
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Profile
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 292
Age: 26
Drafted: 2015 — First round (No. 17)
The Road So Far
Armstead was highly-touted as a first-round pick for the San Francisco 49ers but never truly had the production to match the hype. He has all of the physical tools to be successful but through his first four seasons in the league, he recorded just 9.0 sacks and 29 quarterback hits in 46 games.
However, Armstead got a resurgence when he needed it most. On the final year of his rookie contract, Armstead led the 49ers with 10.0 sacks and was second on the defense with 18 quarterback hits, behind Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa.
In 2019, Armstead set career-highs in sacks (10), tackles for loss (11) and quarterback hits (18).
Fit With The Colts
The defensive end room for the Colts is already solid but improvements must be made. Justin Houston still has enough left in the tank while Kemoko Turay was on his way to a strong season before injury. Ben Banogu flashed in limited work and it remains to be seen if Jabaal Sheard will be re-signed.
Armstead brings a lot of versatility and upside to the defense. His size would allow him to play the edge on early downs while trying to get upfield but then kick inside on third downs, giving the Colts a little extra juice on the interior.
Armstead still has the physical tools to be successful and while he won’t automatically be a double-digit sack rusher every year, the Colts have the scheme and mindset to get the most out of him.
Price
Had Armstead not broken out like he did, his price wouldn’t be that high. And given his age, he should be in line for a nice payday. The market likely indicates that Armstead could see somewhere around $15–17 million at an average annual value. For a player that has had one good year, that’s probably too rich for Chris Ballard’s liking. An AAV of $15 million would put Armstead in the top-15 for all defensive linemen. It’s unlikely Ballard wants to pay that unless they really feel he’s a perfect fit.
Conclusion
Armstead is an intriguing target for the Colts. He has the physical tools to be a nice fit for the defense and would provide a solid upgrade with consistency. The market might phase the Colts out of serious talks for Armstead, but he is at least an edge rusher they should consider in free agency.
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