Darius Leonard was quite possibly the steal of the 2018 NFL Draft as the Indianapolis Colts selected him with the 36th overall pick in the second round. As a rookie, he started 15 games and led the league in both solo (111) and combined (163) tackles, earning first-team All-Pro honors and winning Defensive Rookie of the Year. Leonard was given a Pro Bowl nod in every season since his rookie year, including being named first-team All-Pro again in 2020.
The South Carolina State product recently capitalized on his extraordinarily high production by agreeing to a five-year, $99.3 million extension with the Colts, surpassing 49ers LB Fred Warner as the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. As the accolades keep coming, Leonard will look to establish himself as the best linebacker in the league, with the money to show for it.
Colts have reached an agreement on a 5-year $99.25M extension with Darius Leonard, per @RapSheet
— PFF (@PFF) August 8, 2021
Leonard is now the highest paid LB in NFL history 💰 pic.twitter.com/1MyGEuvgUI
DARIUS LEONARD WILL SOON BECOME THE BEST LINEBACKER IN FOOTBALL
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With over 400 total tackles in just three seasons, Darius Leonard is already one of the best tacklers in the NFL. He also has seven interceptions and nine forced fumbles in his young career. Leonard is universally viewed behind Bobby Wagner and even four others on PFF’s recent Linebacker rankings for 2021. However, it won’t be long before the current highest-paid LB in NFL history emerges as the best linebacker in the league and possibly the greatest Colts LB of all-time.
Darius Leonard is already a 2x 1st Team All-Pro after just 3 seasons
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 28, 2021
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Darius Leonard is 1 of only 3 players with 200+ TKL in their 1st 20 career GS in NFL history
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 28, 2021
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Darius Leonard has the most TKL (163) during 1 season in Indianapolis #Colts history
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 28, 2021
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Darius Leonard has been a beast ever since he came into the league in 2018
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 29, 2021
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