7. Jabaal Sheard, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts
Sheard, a former second-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, turned two ultra-productive seasons with New England into a three-year, $25.5 million contract. He has put up five-plus sacks in five of his first NFL seasons.
That’s not overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination, but it gives Indianapolis another pass-rush threat to go with value signing John Simon. Remember, Indy has to replace the retired Robert Mathis and will likely watch 2016 sack leader Erik Walden depart in free agency.
This is where the addition of Sheard can act as a defining moment for a Colts team that has struggled in the past finding fits for their 3-4 defense. Walden led the team with 11 sacks last season. Mathis came in second at five. After that, not another member of this defense recorded more than three quarterback take downs.
Much like very team that runs a variation of the 3-4, the biggest key is getting consistent pressure from the EDGE position. More than anything, Sheard has proven he’s able to do this.
Now set to play his more natural outside linebacker position, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this former Pittsburgh standout match the production we saw early in his career when he put up a combined 15.5 sacks in his first two seasons with Cleveland. If so, the Colts’ defense should show a marked improvement from a season ago.