The Indianapolis Colts will be without another familiar face next season, as edge rusher Samson Ebukam has reached an agreement to join the Atlanta Falcons, his agent Cameron Foster told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Former Colts DE Samson Ebukam reached agreement today with the Atlanta Falcons, per his agent Cameron Foster pic.twitter.com/5TTzcDxsUM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2026
Ebukam joined the Colts in 2023 on a three-year, $24 million contract that ran through the 2025 season.
In his debut season with the team, he posted a career-high 9.5 sacks. In training camp ahead of the following season, Ebukam suffered a torn Achilles tendon and missed the entire 2024 campaign.
Unfortunately for Ebukam, this injury slowed him down, and he was a shell of himself during the 2025 campaign after sitting out all of 2024.
In his first year under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo this past season, Ebukam recorded two sacks across 14 total games played, 7.5 fewer than his solid 2023 campaign.
The departure of Ebukam joins that of defensive end Kwity Paye, the Colts' first round pick in 2021, who signed a three-year, $48 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week.
The Raiders are signing EDGE Kwity Paye to a 3-year, $48M contract, per @Schultz_Report
77.5 run defense grade since 2022 (16th among edge rushers) pic.twitter.com/W7Q2vjK7tl
— PFF (@PFF) March 9, 2026
After picking up his fifth-year option in 2024, Paye produced 12 sacks across the last two seasons. In his five seasons with the team, he totaled 30.5 sacks and 209 total tackles across 75 total games.
Indianapolis seems to have anticipated the losses of both Ebukam and Paye, having agreed to contracts with former New York Jets defensive end Michael Clemons on Wednesday and former Tennessee Titans defensive end Arden Key on Monday.
Clemons received a three-year, $17.5 million deal with upside of $18.5 million including incentives. In his time with the Jets, he notched 8.5 sacks, 13 TFLs and 2 forced fumbles.
Sources: The #Colts are signing former #Jets DL Michael Clemons to a 3-year, $17.5M contract — with upside to $18.5M. Deal negotiated by @ErikBurkhardt and @Leah_Knight of @RocNationSports.
Clemons had 8.5 sacks, 13 TFLs and 2 forced fumbles during his tenure in New York. pic.twitter.com/8WBVoJnDJp
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 11, 2026
Key was given a two-year deal worth up to $20 million, with $11 million guaranteed. He's coming off a tenure with the Titans that included 16.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbled across 45 games.
He'll be 30 years old by the start of the upcoming season.
Over the last three seasons, the Colts' two new additions have combined for 22.5 sacks, 177 total tackles, and six forced fumbles.
In Ebukam and Paye's last three seasons in Indianapolis, the two combined for 32 sacks, 222 total tackles, and four forced fumbles.
Arden Key gets the sack on C.J. Stroud
TENvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/WwxSvKqcE7
— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025
Indianapolis is likely to continue to add to the position as well. Key and Clemons both add depth to the room, but the team almost certainly doesn't view either as bona fide starters opposite of Laiatu Latu. Paye played that role over the last two seasons.
The Colts were in line to sign Trey Hendrickson this week before the Baltimore Ravens made a stronger offer late in the negotiation process. The team almost certainly has plans to spend a hefty sum on another addition to the edge group.
Teams with the most cap space, per @Jason_OTC
Commanders - $66.3M
Chargers - $63.5M
Ravens - $54.9M
Colts - $50.5M
Titans - $50.2M pic.twitter.com/oQNdX124s9
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) March 12, 2026
Eight-year veteran Tyquan Lewis remains a free agent as well, having spent the entirety of his career with the Colts. He has added 8.5 sacks over the last three seasons to the pass rusher room.
Losing Ebukam and Paye will leave the Colts with a new-look defensive line in 2026, but Indianapolis continually seems to embrace the unit's overhaul.
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