Colts Lose Starting Defender to Division-Rival Texans

The Indianapolis Colts lost out on E.J. Speed in free agency.

Jan 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker E.J. Speed (45) reacts after breaking up a pass and nearly making an interception during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. | Grace Hollars/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

The Indianapolis Colts have had a busy start to free agency, signing six new faces while letting go of multiple familiar ones.

Another Colts draft pick has left the team in free agency as the Houston Texans agreed to sign linebacker E.J. Speed on a one-year, $5 million deal (per Jordan Schultz | FOX).

Speed was selected by the Colts in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft and started 26 games over the past two seasons. Speed tallied a career-high 142 tackles this past season, but also ranked toward the top of the league in missed tackle percentage.

Speed played in 92 games over a six-year stay in Indianapolis. After headlining the linebacker room alongside Zaire Franklin, he'll get a fresh start for an AFC South foe in Houston.

Breaking: The #Texans are signing former #Colts LB E.J. Speed to a 1-year $5M deal, sources tell @NFLonFOX.

Speed spent six seasons in Indy and is coming off a career-best year with 142 tackles in 15 games, including 7 TFLs and 5 PBUs. pic.twitter.com/XVsSj9hUTj

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 29, 2025

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In each of the last three seasons, Speed has tallied at least seven tackles per loss. His absence will certainly be felt on the defensive side of the ball unless the Colts grab a replacement in the upcoming NFL draft.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard obviously had the chance to re-sign Speed, especially considering the size of the contract. Speed will turn 30 years old this summer, a factor that may have played into Ballard's decision.

EJ Speed comes to Houston following a 141 tackle season with the Indianapolis Colts.

He's "Speed"y to trigger downhill and graded very well against the run (72.2 per PFF) last season. Should fit nicely into the Texans linebacker rotation. pic.twitter.com/mb0B4fEuhS

— John Crumpler (@JohnCrumplerMD) March 29, 2025

Speed forced at least one turnover in each of the last four seasons and was a signature guy on fourth-and-short situations. The Colts need to bring in a guy who can imitate Speed's mentality while cleaning up some of the simple mistakes.

The Colts have under a month to decide who to draft to fill Speed's void.

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