NOVEMBER 22: As expected, Leonard cleared waivers today, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Detached from his lucrative Colts contract, the standout linebacker is now a free agent.
NOVEMBER 21: After steady complaints about his diminished role, Shaquille Leonard will be changing teams. The perennial All-Pro linebacker will shockingly become available; Leonard announced Tuesday the Colts are cutting him. Indianapolis has announced the separation.
This comes barely two years after the Colts authorized a record-setting extension for the former second-round success story, but Leonard has not been a fit in Gus Bradley‘s defensive system. After an injury-plagued 2022, Leonard has not returned to a full-time workload this season. Although Leonard bristled about his usage, Fox59’s Mike Chappell notes he did not ask the Colts to cut him.
A force in Matt Eberflus‘ defense, Leonard signed a five-year, $98.5MM extension before the 2021 season. The Colts owe Leonard $6.11MM in remaining base salary this season — should no team claim him — and the AFC South club is on the hook for an additional $8MM in dead money due to prorated signing bonus. This cut’s full cost to the Colts will not be determined until waivers process.
Certain teams do have the cap space to pick up the remainder of Leonard’s 2023 base salary, a move that would help the Colts on the financial front. But ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes Leonard is expected to clear waivers. No fully guaranteed money is attached to this contract beyond 2023. This will set up one of the more interesting in-season free agency derbies in recent years.
“Shaq is the ultimate competitor and has been a fan favorite since he arrived as a rookie in 2018,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said. “We are incredibly grateful for his contributions to the team and the city of Indianapolis over the last six seasons. … He will always be a valued member of the Horseshoe.”
Leonard, 28, earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2018, 2020 and ’21 and was a second-team choice in 2019. The Division I-FCS product became a turnover-forcing machine during Eberflus’ four-year run as Indy’s DC. In 2021 alone, Leonard caused an astounding 12 turnovers — four INTs, an NFL-most eight forced fumbles — to help the Colts to the playoff precipice. Over the course of his career, Leonard has forced 17 fumbles and intercepted 12 passes.
The 49ers, Browns, Cardinals and Bengals each hold more than $10MM in cap space, while a handful of other teams carry more than $7MM. It would be interesting to see if a team submits a claim in an effort to secure Leonard’s rights beyond 2023; his current contract runs through 2025. The Bears come to mind as a team that could be interested, as they have made buyer’s trades despite holding one of the league’s worst records in back-to-back years. Eberflus also coached Leonard throughout his Indianapolis tenure, though Chicago did spend top-five ILB money on Tremaine Edmunds this offseason. T.J. Edwards signed a midlevel Bears deal as well, potentially cutting Chicago off early here. The Cowboys and Eagles pursued linebackers at the deadline as well — Nick Sirianni was on Frank Reich‘s Colts staff for three years — while the Steelers have lost two regulars for the season.
Leonard is also coming off a year in which he underwent two back surgeries. After a summer 2022 procedure did not clear up the issue, Leonard was eventually shut down in November of last year. He ended up playing three games in the Reich-Jeff Saturday season, also suffering a concussion and a broken nose, but was ready to go for Week 1 of this year. Bradley, however, refused to use Leonard as his play-calling predecessor did. Leonard (454 defensive snaps) logged a 70% snap rate this season. His snap shares from 2018-21: 98%, 98%, 93%, 98%.
In addition to Leonard being unhappy with his role under Bradley, Pro Football Focus ranks the once-dominant defender outside the top 60 among off-ball linebackers this season. Leonard has made 65 tackles in nine games, but just two of those were for losses; the sixth-year ‘backer also does not have a fumble forced, fumble recovered or an INT this season.
The Colts have used Zaire Franklin on more defensive plays (634), and the recently re-signed E.J. Speed has logged 357 defensive snaps. This duo will represent a lower-cost pair compared to Leonard, whom the Colts did not believe was living up to his lucrative contract. The Colts could have hung on and saved some money by cutting Leonard in 2024; that move would have created $12MM in cap savings for the retooled team. But the now-Shane Steichen-led squad will attempt to make a playoff push without one of the most productive defenders in franchise history.
It will obviously be interesting to see where Leonard lands and if he can prove Bradley and Co. wrong. Claims for Leonard must be submitted by 3pm CT Wednesday. Beyond that, Leonard figures to have a few suitors in free agency.
Ummm….
Is there offset language? Cause I would live a Bernard – Leonard linebacker tandem to finish this year.
Not sure it works, but wow.
Best landing spots for him: Chiefs. Bengals. Cowboys. Jets. Steelers
Dolphins, Chiefs, San Francisco are my picks.
Niners would love him. They’re serious about Super Bowl
They’d really only have room for hik as a 3rd LB, and that’s something the 49ers barely use.
Bengals just signed their LB’s to extensions this year in Logan Wilson and Jermaine Pratt. They need their money for Higgins, Chase, Reeder and Awusie
Higgins will hit free agency I think. They can’t pay everyone. He’s replaceable with Iosivas Charlie or a cheap veteran in free agency(Renfrow, Woods etc)
They just signed their linebackers. The Bengals will have zero interest in him
You bring up a great point about Dallas, especially with the injury issues concerning Vander Esch.
A player with Leonard’s versatility could have a lot of options, though.
Facts
wow,
The Commies/Redskins desperately need a linebacker upgrade, and have just lost two DE starters. Can Leonard rush the passer well?
I have an idea for them i’m surprised they haven’t explored: move last year’s second rounder Mathis into the starting lineup, and move Jonathan Allen over to defensive end, he’s already a good pass rusher
Allen is too good in the middle to move him out of there. As long as the Commies/Redskins keep running a 4-3 or 4-2 defense, there’s place for all those DT.
There must be more to this that we’re not privy to..
Bill Belichick window shopping for sure
If he clears waivers, New England would be on the bottom of any Super Bowl trophy seeker’s list.
Being here in Colts country – he has lacked that big play ability following the injuries. Comes off field on third downs and has been playing less than half the defensive snaps recently. Colts committed more to EJ Speed.
He’s a vocal leader but explosive production hasn’t matched this year (though still a solid tackler). Would be good for a team not expecting prime Leonard but needs a solid veteran presence that can eat up snaps.
Exactly. Not the big play LB anymore since the injuries. Costs a lot of money too.
Shaq, Q and Erik Fisher, among others were allowed to rush back from injuries and all had/have a severely diminished level of play…
I could see the Eagles making a move for him. Their LB play, especially since the injury to Dean, has been fairly subpar compared to the rest of their defense.
The Steelers just signed two retired guys to play LB, Shaqs gotta be an option.
Feel like this is a perfect win win situation but favours Leonard more. Colts free up some cap space and in all seriousness he’s kinda dropped down the pecking order and wasn’t needed anymore anyways. But on the other hand Leonard himself gets to pick where he wants to finish he year and prove his worth. Perfectly sets him up to chase money, a bigger role or a championship ring, all of which he wasn’t going to get in Indy.
Feel like he needs to do the ring chase, so pick the right team that’ll also allow him to get a good amount of snaps. Chiefs stand out as a great option
Go get him Dallas. Would be good replacement for LVE, if not take his spot entirely if he does well.
If healthy I wonder if Tampa would have interest. LVD just got dinged up but Devin White is not a good coverage lb. LVD and Leonard could be better and have White just focus on pass rush.
Tampa is not a playoff team
Not a contender but 1 game back in their division. They have a win over the Saints who QB can’t stay healthy. ATL is not good either. They are a playoff team by winning that division.
Baker will screw it up
Baker to the Cleveland Browns (formerly a 1 or 2 win a season team) the playoffs in short order after landing in hell, sorry, Ohio.
And yet he’s 7-14 since he left the Browns. I think it’s more the team elevates Mayfield than the other way around
Mayfield is not a miracle worker like peak Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes, it’s true. But he’s a fine quarterback for a good team when healthy. He at least has the fighting spirit to raise a good team’s game.
More like a good team raises him up. Carolina was worse with him. Rams were worse with him. Tampa is worse with him. Browns are 7-3 without him. You can’t argue with the facts
Leonard went from great before his back injuries & surgeries, to not even good afterward. He plays scared, tentative, soft. He will never be any good again. Complaining about not getting more reps, but basically ran around doing nothing when he was on the field. Sad outcome, but he’s had plenty of chances to showcase something, yet showed nothing.
Back surgeries take time to heal and he/the team may have rushed him back too soon. That said, his best option may be to take the rest of the season off to regain his mobility and strength. Then test the free market next spring
Or if the docs say his back is still not safely healed for NFL level contact, retire while he still has full mobility.
Your reputation only buys you so much. At some point you need to play up to that level again or you’ll get waived. It will be interesting to see if a change in scenery brings about a return to form.
Jets?