After a two year stint with the reigning world champion New England Patriots, Jabaal Sheard is making a big money move to Indianapolis.
The Colts signed Sheard to a three-year, $25.5 million contract on Friday according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. His new deal contains $12.75 million in guaranteed money. Sheard spent the previous two seasons with the Pats.
Former Patriots LB Jabaal Sheard is signing with the Colts, per @FieldYates and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2017
Indianapolis Colts Land Jabaal Sheard on Three-Year Deal
Sheard played in 15 games and made eight starts for the Patriots during the 2016 regular season. His five sacks on the year were second on the team behind Trey Flowers, who had seven. In Super Bowl LI, Sheard registered a half a sack on quarterback Matt Ryan in New England’s famous 34-28 come from behind victory.
The 6’3″, 265 pound edge rusher initially arrived in Foxborough after signing a two-year, $11 million deal in 2015. Much like his second season with the team, he finished as the team’s second leading player in sacks with eight. That year, Chandler Jones led the Pats with 12.5 and later signed with the Arizona Cardinals in the off-season.
Sheard’s NFL career began in 2011 when the Cleveland Browns drafted him in the second round (37th overall) of that year’s NFL Draft. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, with his 8.5 sacks leading the team. The total remains a career high. For his efforts, he earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers Assocation All-Rookie Team.
Prior to that, Sheard played collegiately at Pittsburgh and established himself as one of the then Big East’s top defensive linemen. As a senior, he ended up with nine sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss as the Panthers finished ranked 15th in the nation. The Hollywood, FL native won Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2010.
