Updated March 11, 2026, 2:13 p.m. ET
INDIANAPOLIS— The Colts have made one other funding to the defensive line.
Indianapolis is signing former Jets defensive end Michael Clemons to a three-year deal value as much as $18.5 million, league sources advised IndyStar, including versatility to the entrance with a participant coming off his rookie deal in New York.
Clemons, who was listed at 6-5, 263 kilos when he first entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick of Texas A&M, may also slide to the within in sure conditions, making him a probable substitute for veteran Tyquan Lewis, who’s now a free agent after eight seasons in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis continues to take a position in the defensive line after lacking out on Bengals star Trey Hendrickson.
The Colts were in the mix for the Pro Bowler, a league supply advised IndyStar, however the Ravens entered the combination with a better supply late Tuesday and signed Hendrickson after nullifying a commerce for Raiders famous person Maxx Crosby.
Baltimore’s last-minute play forces Indianapolis to get artistic. The Colts have a gaping gap at defensive end, significantly in the go rush. Laiatu Latu led Indianapolis with 8.5 sacks, however 2021 first-rounder Kwity Paye has already left for Las Vegas in free agency, and the veteran combo of Lewis and Samson Ebukam is on the flawed aspect of 30 years outdated.
“We do have work to do,” Ballard stated. “Unfortunately, last year, when Tyquan got hurt and Samson got hurt, it affected the group. We’ve definitely got to add fuel to that position, players.”
With Hendrickson headed elsewhere and beginning quarterback Daniel Jones lastly beneath contract, Indianapolis can now flip its consideration absolutely to upgrading a protection that wanted to get youthful and quicker.
The Colts already agreed to phrases with former Titans defensive end Arden Key, who provides explosiveness off the ball in a rotation position.
Clemons is the following transfer. By signing Clemons, the Colts will get youthful, and certain extra sturdy. Clemons, 28, has performed in at the least 16 video games in all 4 of his NFL seasons; Lewis has performed a full season’s value of video games simply twice in his eight-year profession.
The Colts have had success beneath normal supervisor Chris Ballard at figuring out underutilized defensive linemen who can take the following step in the fitting system, the perfect instance being former Indianapolis defensive deal with Denico Autry.
Indianapolis is hoping to do the identical with Clemons.
Forced to play in quite a lot of roles in New York, Clemons has simply 8.5 profession sacks in 4 seasons, hitting a profession excessive with 4.5 sacks in 2024, then fell to 1 sack in 2025.
But his underlying numbers present that he may not have fallen off so far as the sack numbers confirmed. Clemons posted a profession excessive with 24 pressures in 2025, and he improved his get-off time (from 1 second to 0.97 seconds), time to stress (from 3.4 seconds to 2.93 seconds) and fast quarterback pressures (from two to seven).
Indianapolis seemingly is not going to ask Clemons to play a starter’s position. DeForest Buckner and Adetomiwa Adebawore are each anticipated again to supply inside go rush, and the Colts have Latu, Key and 2025 second-rounder JT Tuimoloau in the fold, with extra additions seemingly up entrance.
“We think it’s a good free-agent class,” Ballard stated on the Combine, “and a good draft class.”
There continues to be work left to do.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cowl the Colts all season. Get extra protection on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
