Colts general manager Chris Ballard got a great deal in free agency last offseason when he signed defensive end Margus Hunt to a two-year $4.1 million contract
After being a below-average rotational player for the first four years of his career in Cincinnati, Hunt emerged as one of Indianapolis’ best defensive linemen in 2017. Hunt didn’t have much production rushing the passer with only one sack on the season, but he excelled in run defense with 19 tackles including a ton of disruptive plays.
The Colts will be switching to a 4-3 scheme this season under new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. This scheme change does not fit Hunt’s skill set.
At 6’ 8” and 298 pounds, Hunt doesn’t have the prototypical size to be a 4-3 defensive tackle and he lacks the speed and agility to be a true edge rusher in a four-man front.
Hunt’s success mainly came as a 3-4 defensive end last season, and he won’t be able to play that role very much in the Colts’ new scheme.
Hunt will also be 31 years old by the time training camp opens in Indianapolis, which doesn’t put him on the same timeline as many of the Colts’ young and talented players.
The Colts can cut Hunt before the final season of his two-year contract without sacrificing a single dollar in cap money.
Despite coming off of a breakout season and being a valuable member of Indianapolis’ defense last year, I don’t think Margus Hunt is in the Colts’ long-term plans and I’d be moderately surprised to see him on the regular season roster come September.