The Indianapolis Colts defense got a strong bump in pass-rush production in 2023 thanks to the arrival of defensive end Samson Ebukam.
Entering his second season with the Colts after signing a three-year deal in free agency, Ebukam just might be the most underrated player on the team.
In the eyes of Zoltan Buday of Pro Football Focus, Ebukam was listed as just that.
Ebukam lived up to expectations in his first season with the Colts in 2023. His 84.4 PFF overall grade ranked 14th among edge defenders, and it was also Ebukam’s highest grade in his career. He has mainly excelled as a situational pass rusher up until now, but he could remain in a featured role as first-round rookie Laiatu Latu gets up to speed.
Ebukam was everything the Colts wanted when they signed him during free agency. His 9.5 sacks led the team and his 48 total pressures were second on the team only to defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
The Colts need more consistency with their pass rush, but Ebukam has the potential to reach double-digit sacks while being a main part of the defense in 2024.