Colts Pull In One of NFL's Biggest Free-Agent Bargains
The Indianapolis Colts are rarely the type to make big, flashy signings in free agency. The higher the price tag or heavier the equity a player's name carries around the NFL, the Colts are less likely to engage. As a result, general manager Chris Ballard and the Colts turn to second and third-tier players to fortify their roster in free agency.
While this approach is often aggravating to fans, the Colts have had their success stories and they're being given a thumbs up again for perhaps finding another with edge defender Samson Ebukam.
Touchdown Wire recently wrote up a list of "the best bargains and most underrated players in 2023 NFL free agency," grouping free agents who will impact their rosters much more than some people may consider. They included the Colts' addition of Ebukam among them (as well as the New York Giants' signing of former Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell).
Ebukam was another defensive lineman who got on the good foot with Ryans running his defense — he had four decent seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, and then blew up in production with the 49ers in 2021 and 2022. Last season, he had six sacks, a career-high 50 quarterback pressures, and 28 stops.
Ebukam was far more an edge guy than Omenihu, who plied his trade all over the line, but the good news for the Colts, who signed him to a three-year, $24 million contract with $10.755 million guaranteed, is that Ebukam cam work off that edge with all kinds of authority. Neither left tackle Tyler Smith nor tight end Dalton Schultz had much of an answer for Ebukam on this sack of Dak Prescott in the divisional round. Ebukam won with technique and effort, and that’s what the Colts can expect from him, as well.
After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams out of Eastern Washington, Ebukam (6'3", 240, 27 years old) has steadily improved throughout his six years with the Rams (2017-20) and San Francisco 49ers (2021-22).
In his last two seasons with the 49ers, Ebukam has really come into his own, most recently posting career highs in starts (15), tackles for loss (7), sacks (5.0), and quarterback hits (13) in 2022.
Following a film breakdown of Ebukam, Horseshoe Huddle's Zach Hicks said the following about the move:
"Samson Ebukam, in a lot of ways, is the complete opposite of Yannick Ngakoue. He is a reliable, high-energy player that creates a lot of pressure even if it doesn't lead to sacks for his personal count. On top of that, Ebukam is also a solid run defender, which can't be said about the Colts' former LEO from this past season."
In 96 career games (61 starts), Ebukam has compiled 224 tackles (28 for loss), 23.5 sacks, 52 quarterback hits, 8 forced fumbles, 5 fumbles recovered, 1 interception, 8 pass breakups, and 2 defensive touchdowns.
The Colts have been negligent at some positions in recent offseasons but edge is a group where they do make moves with regularity. It's a priority again this spring with reigning leading sacker Yannick Ngakoue (9.5) being a free agent and Ifeadi Odenigbo being let go late last season. Those players accounted for 13 of the team's 44 sacks in 2022.
The Colts do have Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo but both players still have growing to do before you can say the defense doesn't need reinforcements near the top of the edge group. The Colts did also re-sign Tyquan Lewis but he's only played one full season in his career, so they can't really consider that a firm move.
The addition of Ebukam gives them a potential starter at LEO in replacement of Ngakoue while allowing Paye to start opposite him and Odeyingo to continue developing in a rotational role behind them.
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