Colts Free-Agent Starting Defender Leaving for New York Giants

Indianapolis Colts starting linebacker Bobby Okereke is reportedly leaving in free agency to join the New York Giants.

The NFL's legal tampering period kicked off at noon on Monday, and the Indianapolis Colts saw a familiar face agree to terms elsewhere.

Former third-round draft pick and Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke agreed to terms with the New York Giants on a four-year, $40 million deal, including $22M guaranteed. The move adds Okereke to a group that needed more talent at the position. The first to report the signing was Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The #Giants big splash of free agency: Sources say they have agreed to terms with #Colts FA LB Bobby Okereke, giving them a new face in the middle of their defense.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2023

The Colts drafted Okereke out of Stanford with the 89th-overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Since joining the Colts, Okereke has tallied 420 total tackles, which is a team-high during that timespan.

The Colts lose a key contributor from one of the best defenses in the NFL this past year and arguably their best coverage linebacker currently on the roster with Okereke’s departure.

© Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Re-signing Okereke this offseason always seemed unlikely for the Colts, with Shaquille Leonard currently being the second-highest-paid at his position in the NFL. Okereke also had multiple suitors on the market to help raise his contract price even higher.

The common thought, in the beginning, was that Okereke would join the Chicago Bears to reunite with former Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who is now head coach with the Bears. However, Chicago agreed on big money for linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds earlier on Monday instead.

The Giants are getting a linebacker who has excelled in both Eberflus' and Gus Bradley's schemes and had his breakout season in 2021, where he led the team in solo and total tackles (89 and 132) after being implemented as a full-time starter for the team. He followed it up with 151 more tackles in 2022.

Expect Okereke to take the reigns of a starting role in New York where he can be a playmaker in Wink Martindale's scheme.

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