Former Colts All-Pro Makes Choice Between Eagles, Cowboys
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The Indianapolis Colts made an unexpected move two weeks ago when they waived former All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard, but after a couple of free-agent visits last week with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, "The Maniac" has chosen his next destination.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport posted on X (and was then confirmed by the team) that Leonard agreed to a one-year deal with the reigning NFC champion Eagles.
Leonard, 28, had become dissatisfied with his diminished playing time with the Colts in 2023. After the team initially decided that they would make him inactive for the rest of the season, they instead chose to let him go altogether so that he could find a new place to play.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, "Dallas was all-in on signing Leonard but things were quiet today, with some there wondering whether he had moved on."
Leonard now joins an Eagles defense that ranks 23rd in the NFL (350.6 YPG) and could use some help in the middle of the unit.
Leonard's career began spectacularly, earning him NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018, four Pro Bowl and four All-Pro nods, as well as a huge five-year, $98 million contract extension just before the 2021 season.
His body of work was unparalleled, stuffing the stat sheet with tackles, stuffs, sacks, interceptions, and just about anything else he could do. However, injuries began mounting and soon derailed his progress.
During the 2022 offseason, he underwent a procedure on his back that kept him out up into the early chunk of the season. He was ultimately held to just three games and had another back procedure that ended his season prematurely.
Leonard came back this summer and was ready to go from the jump in training camp but had yet to look like his old self on film through the first 11 weeks of the season. His range, athleticism, ferocity, and playmaking were all absent. It led to the Colts reducing his role, as he played just 69.7% of the defense's snaps in 2023.
With his performance dipping, Leonard's price tag became a big question for onlookers.
According to OverTheCap, Leonard was due a guaranteed $15.7 million in 2023 and was still owed about $6.1 million for the remainder of this season at the time of his departure from the Colts.
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