Just In: Two Colts defenders are among the most undervalued 2024 NFL free agents.

This summer, PFF named two veteran defenders for the Colts among its “most underrated 2024 NFL free agents.”

Pro Football Focus lists defensive tackle Grover Stewart and cornerback Kenny Moore II of the Indianapolis Colts as two of their “most underrated 2024 free agents”:

Stewart, a former fourth-round choice of the 2017 Colts, has emerged as one of the NFL’s top run-stuffing nose tackles.

Stewart’s interior run defense was greatly missed by the Colts during his six-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs, which was imposed by the NFL. With Stewart returning and shutting down the inside run game once more, the outcomes were radically different.

As mentioned, Stewart ranked +77.3 among interior defenders this past season, which was good for fifth place in PFF’s run defense rankings.

Stewart is a bit one-dimensional and is only used in nickel subpackages, but he still contributes a significant skill set to the Colts defense in stopping the run, which he does quite effectively.

Being a 30-year-old run stuffer, he isn’t projected to have a particularly strong free agent market, but he should command a salary similar to the $10 million he now makes per year—especially if teams believe his PED ban was an accident and that he is now safely back on the field.

The Colts defense is led by Stewart, a seasoned player, and they probably want to sign him to a shorter, multi-year contract:

In the meantime, Kenny Moore II turned around his dismal 2022 season to establish himself once again as one of the NFL’s top slot cornerbacks. Along with his excellent slot coverage, Moore II concluded the season with three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. He also continues to rank among the best tackling cornerbacks in the industry.

He was earlier voted the 2023 season’s “most improved Colts player” by PFF.

Similar to Stewart, Moore II may catch the attention of any NFL contenders looking for a seasoned player to cover a specific position. Prior to the trade deadline of the previous year, there were rumors of interest in him.

But considering his significance to an otherwise extremely youthful Colts secondary and his stated desire to re-sign with the team, Moore II should return for a number of years as he is once again performing at a Pro Bowl caliber: