Former Colts linebacker E.J. Speed is staying in the AFC South.
Indianapolis Colts free-agent linebacker E.J. Speed is signing a one-year, $5 million deal with the Houston Texans, according to Jordan Schultz.
Breaking: The #Texans are signing former #Colts LB E.J. Speed to a 1-year $5M deal, sources tell @NFLonFOX.
Speed spent six seasons in Indy and is coming off a career-best year with 142 tackles in 15 games, including 7 TFLs and 5 PBUs. pic.twitter.com/XVsSj9hUTj
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 29, 2025
Some had wondered whether the Colts would bring back the former fifth-round draft pick. Instead, Speed, who spent the last six seasons in Indianapolis, will remain in the AFC South in 2025 with the Texans.
Speed earned the full-time role in 2024 after seeing an increase in snaps in 2023 for the Colts. He recorded 26 tackles-for-loss and 122 run-stops over the previous three seasons. In 2024, Speed recorded a career-best 142 tackles, including seven tackles-for-loss, one interception and five pass deflections, according to ESPN.
Speed goes to division rival Texans.
The former Colts WILL LB was rotational in 2022, earned the starting job midway through 2023, & was the full time starter in 2024
He had 26 TFL & 122 Run Stops over the last 3 seasons, grading 72.2 (2024) to 82.8 (2022) in Run D in that span https://t.co/NA5t5G1Fh9 pic.twitter.com/lXX3bBwttv
— Jay Robins mark (@RobinsLucas) March 29, 2025
How the Colts decide to replace Speed will be something to monitor. Indianapolis hasn’t shied away from bringing in key defensive pieces for new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Perhaps Indianapolis looks to the upcoming NFL Draft to fill Speed’s role. Names such as Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell and UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger have been listed in mock drafts as possible options for the Colts in April. Both would be intriguing options for Anarumo and others to work with.
However, if Indy were to choose to look in-house for Speed’s replacement, look no further than second-year linebacker and former fifth-round pick, Jaylon Carlies. Carlies, whom the Colts converted from safety to linebacker after drafting him last offseason, provided a glimpse into what he could bring as a player in 2025.
Carlies had 24 solo tackles and one sack for the Colts last season. He could especially excel in coverage, given his background as a former safety. With that in mind, Carlies just might be what Anarumo and Co. are looking for.
Whether it’s an in-house option, veteran free-agent or the upcoming draft, Indianapolis will have plenty of ways to find its new starting WILL linebacker in 2025.
