Colts Waive Shaquille Leonard
The Indianapolis Colts officially waived All-Pro Linebacker Shaquille Leonard Tuesday, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
Leonard posted a message thanking Indianapolis and its fans on Twitter.
Leonard is owed $6.1 million for the remainder of the 2023 NFL Season. In addition, he has three additional years left on his contract where he earns $16 to $19 million. For a team to claim Leonard off waivers, they will need to pay the remainder of his deal. If he clears waivers, he will be a free agent.
In 2018, Leonard’s career started with a bang as he won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year while being named an All-Pro. In his first four seasons, he was a three-time First-Team All-Pro. That momentum came to a halt in 2022 when Leonard suffered a litany of back injuries that kept him sidelined for the majority of the season.
In 2023, Leonard has returned; however, despite starting, he has seen a decline in defensive snaps. Leonard has played as low as 45 percent of the Colts defensive snaps while reaching a high of 86 percent. The high end of the spectrum came in the Colts season opener.
Leonard has still produced when on the field. In nine games, he has logged 35 solo tackles, 65 total tackles and two tackles-for-loss. The most noticeable difference in Leonard’s current form in comparison to his prime is his drop in pass-rush production and turnover creation. That is not ideal for a linebacker that makes north of $15 million.
Leonard will be able to find a home if he intends on playing the remainder of the 2023 NFL Season. It is doubtful any team is aggressive enough to inherit his massive contract, but a contending team could bring him in as a free agent.
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