The Indianapolis Colts have bolstered their defensive front, securing pass rusher Micheal Clemons on a three-year contract worth $17.5 million, as reported by Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report. The agreement also carries an additional $1 million in performance-based incentives.
Clemons arrives in Indianapolis alongside fellow defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi, as the Colts work to reconstruct their defensive line following the departure of Kwity Paye, who departed for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency.
The 28-year-old Clemons entered the league as a fourth-round selection by the New York Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft, spending his entire four-year tenure with the organization. Over that stretch, he accumulated appearances in 65 games, earning 24 starts along the way.
Despite being limited to just six starts during his most recent campaign — largely due to the emergence of Will McDonald and Jermaine Johnson ahead of him on the depth chart — Clemons actually saw a marginal uptick in his snap share, logging 55 percent of defensive snaps compared to 54 percent the previous year, when he had commanded a full 17-game starting role.
Across his four professional seasons, Clemons has compiled a career stat line that includes 119 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and two passes defensed. The veteran lineman has also been flagged 10 times for penalties totaling 97 yards throughout his tenure.