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After their aggressiveness at the NFL trade deadline, it’s clear that the Indianapolis Colts are all-in on the current campaign. And understandably so. The Colts currently sit atop the AFC South with a 7-2 record and are in excellent condition to lock up a playoff berth for the first time since 2020.
The trade deadline has passed, but the Colts could still look to bolster the roster further via free agency, if they so choose. They were recently listed as an ideal fit for free agent edge rusher Shaquil Barrett by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report.
Barrett is a two-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowler who led the league in sacks in 2019. His resume speaks for itself. But, the Colts wouldn’t be signing him for his resume. The question is if he can still contribute at this point in his career.
“It's unclear what type of contributor the 32-year-old can be, seeing as how he hasn't played on a full-time basis since 2023,” Knox wrote. “However, the two-time Pro Bowler logged 4.5 sacks and 19 QB pressures that season. It's hard to imagine he couldn't be an effective rusher in a rotational role. The Colts, who went all-in by trading for Sauce Gardner, could use Barrett on the edge.”
The connection makes sense, as Barrett had a tryout with the Colts last month. It didn’t lead to anything at the time, but there was clearly some interest there. Perhaps Indianapolis will ultimately act on that interest.
Barrett played just one game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, and he’s yet to appear in a game this season, so it’s fair to wonder how much he has left in the tank. But he should be well-rested, at least. The guy has 59 career sacks, so he clearly has a nose for getting to the quarterback. He could probably still contribute in that regard in a limited role.
The San Francisco 49ers were also listed as a good fit for Barrett.
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