In 2017, the Indianapolis Colts had a disappointing draft to say the least. Malik Hooker, Quincy Wilson, Tarell Basham, and Zach Banner were the first four picks, and while they weren't bad players, they all struggled to make an impression in Indy.
However, in that same draft, the Colts made a selection that, at the time, most people considered an afterthought. A 6’4", 314-pound defensive tackle from Albany State named Grover Stewart.
Stewart was considered a raw prospect by most draft pundits, and people questioned if he could handle the uptick in talent coming from such a small school. Stewart answered those questions emphatically within his first two years in the league as he quickly earned a spot in the rotation.
Heading into his third season, Stewart finally cracked the starting lineup where he showed flashes of dominance. He established himself as one of the most dominant run defenders in the league that no one was talking about.
What makes Stewart special is how awesome of a teammate he is. Not a lot of guys are willing to lay it on the line for his teammates week in and week out, and Stewart does consistently.
Due to the position he plays the numbers will never be truly eye popping. However, he does all the dirty work that allows guys to make plays. That’s the sacrifice Stewart makes and the players know it. Stewart makes the job of All-Pros like Shaq Leonard and DeForest Buckner a heck of a lot easier.
His contributions to the team did not go unnoticed after his first full year as a starter. Three years into his NFL career, Colts GM Chris Ballard handed Grover Stewart a three-year, $30 million extension that he is currently on the last year of. Once he received the extension, he turned it up even more. He has started every single game over the last three seasons, becoming a stabilizing force on a Colts defense that has been good against the run over the last three years.
Stewart has always been strong at the point of attack and shown the ability to anchor down and not get knocked off the ball while taking on double teams. He’s what you call the immovable force. As he gets older, he’s still improving in the technical areas. Watching a couple games from these past two seasons, you can see that his hand placement and his balance is much improved from his earlier days.
One thing Stewart has on his side as well is time. He’s 29 years old and in the prime of his career due to the fact that defensive tackles can play until they’re mid-to-late 30’s. Although he’s turning 30 this year, I wouldn’t hesitate to give this guy an extension.My prediction for Stewart would be somewhere around three-years, $40 million, bringing him right around $13 million a year, which is a raise he’s earned.
Stewart does so much for this team in that locker room. He’s earned everyone’s respect and ascended to one of the leaders the players look up to. Couple that with the fact that he is never in trouble off the field and works his butt off year in and year out, it’s easy to see why a guy like him should be rewarded.
Stewart is the type of guy you wish retires as a Colt. And even then, hopefully he has a booth in Lucas Oil Stadium selling those fantastic wings. Thank you, Grover, for being a fantastic example of what it means to be a Colt.
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