Fansided

10 NFL stars playing for a huge payday in 2021

By Russell S. Baxter

Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images
Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 10
Next
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 22: Darius Leonard #53 of the Indianapolis Colts waves to the crowd in the game against the Carolina Panthers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 22: Darius Leonard #53 of the Indianapolis Colts waves to the crowd in the game against the Carolina Panthers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

2. LB Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts

He is one of the crown jewels of general manager Chris Ballard’s 2018 draft class with the Indianapolis Colts. Linebacker Darius Leonard has already distinguished himself as one of the best defenders in the league.

There was quite a debut campaign by the second-round pick from South Carolina State. Leonard led the club with a 163 tackles, 111 of those of the solo variety. There was also an impressive seven sacks to go along with a pair interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and eight passes defensed. During the club’s two-game postseason run that year, Leonard finished with a combined 27 stops.

Leonard would missed three games this past season but still finished second on the club with 121 tackles. He also led the team with five interceptions – returning one of those thefts for a score. Add in five sacks, seven passes defensed and two forced fumbles and it was another huge showing for a player that began his career earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-Pro honors in 2018 and was named to the Pro Bowl this past season.

In 2018, the 36th overall pick in that drafted inked a four-year, $7.24 million contract with the team. Leonard has been a bargain to date but that may be getting to change very quickly.

Home/NFL