Shaquille Leonard landing spots: Cowboys reportedly interested in star LB after release from Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are rising from the bye week with out one of the crucial fixtures to their protection over the previous few years. On Tuesday, Indianapolis launched linebacker Shaquille Leonard. He has since cleared waivers on Wednesday and is a unfastened agent. The former All-Pro showed the news on social media with a post saying his farewell to the franchise and the town. 

“Indy, I want to thank you for accepting me and my family with open arms,” Leonard wrote. “These past six years has been nothing but incredible! Through the good times and bad time y’all stood by my side. I apologize for not bringing that trophy back to the 317. The energy at Lucas Oil has been nothing but amazing and I thank you for every memory. I’m thankful to play for such an amazing fan base. I love you guys and wish the Colts nothing but the best!” 

Colts proprietor Jim Irsay additionally took to social media in the aftermath of the transfer to reminisce about Leonard’s tenure, whilst additionally acknowledging that the NFL is a “tough business.” 

“Colts Nation will always remember The Maniac’s palpable energy on the field with each tackle, interception, punchout, and fumble recovery,” Irsay mentioned in a observation. “Off the field, he’s a servant leader and assisted numerous families in both his hometown and the Indianapolis community. We’re thankful for Shaq and the contributions he made to our organization. We wish him and his beautiful family the best moving forward.” 

Leonard — who asked to head by means of his heart title, Shaquille, over his first title, Darius, in 2022 — arrived in Indianapolis in 2018 as a second-round draft pick of South Carolina State. He straight away made an have an effect on for the Colts, successful Defensive Rookie of the Year after main the league in tackles. Over his tenure, he was once a first-team All-Pro thrice and named to the Pro Bowl 4 occasions. 

In fresh seasons, then again, accidents have plagued Leonard. He was once restricted to only 3 video games in 2022 because of offseason again surgical procedure, struggling a concussion in Week 4 of that 12 months, after which was once put on injured reserve for the rest of the season in Week 10 after struggling a setback along with his again damage. Leonard has been in a position to fit up and get started in 9 video games for the Colts this season and has posted 65 tackles. 

It was once not likely {that a} crew was once going to say Leonard off waivers and soak up his present contract. If a crew did, they might’ve owed him more or less $6 million in base wage for the remainder of this season and north of $13 million in line with season (together with $19 million in 2026) over the following 3 seasons. With that in thoughts, it was once a lot more reasonable for this example to spread the place he’s now unfastened to signal a extra palatable care for a brand new membership. 

Landing spots

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers linebacker room has been decimated with accidents. So a lot so, that they had to entice Myles Jack out of retirement to lend a hand fill the void. Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander each suffered season-ending accidents just lately and have been beginning Mykal Walker on Sunday towards the Browns after he was once up to now at the apply squad. Leonard may realistically come in and compete for a beginning process or insert himself into the rotation with Walker, Jack, and Elandon Roberts to lend a hand stabilize this workforce for Pittsburgh.

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo may use intensity on the linebacker spot as this protection has been hit with a number of key accidents this season, together with Matt Milano. That’s now not even citing that the Bills additionally misplaced linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in unfastened company final offseason, so there’s a hollow right here that Leonard may lend a hand fill. Tyrel Dodson and Terrel Bernard had been the beginning linebackers, and Leonard can be a rotational possibility that the Bills may goal.  

Philadelphia Eagles

If Leonard desires to be a valid contributor to a Super Bowl contender, the Eagles make all of the sense in the arena as a landing spot now that he’s a unfastened agent. Philly has been leaning on Zach Cunningham and Nicholas Morrow as its linebacker duo after sending Nakobe Dean to injured reserve with a Lisfranc damage. Leonard could be a great supplement to Cunningham and Morrow to lend a hand bolster this place workforce for the postseason. It’s additionally price mentioning that there’s familiarity right here with head trainer Nick Sirianni, who served because the Colts offensive coordinator from 2018-2020 and noticed firsthand what Leonard is able to when firing on all cylinders. 

Chicago Bears

If Leonard is searching for a crew to latch on with to head on a deep playoff run, the Bears are not a are compatible. However, there’s a dating right here with Chicago with head trainer Matt Eberflus. He was once Leonard’s defensive coordinator in Indy when he first entered the league in 2018 and all the way through his maximum prolific years in the league. If Leonard is having a look to re-ignite that magic, then Chicago makes some sense. 

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys seems to be in the marketplace for a linebacker, as ESPN stories that Dallas is interested in Leonard. Mike McCarthy’s crew does have a necessity at that place, because it was once left skinny in the aftermath of shedding Leighton Vander Esch for the season because of a neck damage. Dallas now represents a chance for Leonard to sign up for a Super Bowl contender the place he can come in and fill a considerable position for one of the crucial most sensible defenses in the NFL.