SI.com’s Peter King reported/hinted earlier Thursday that the Indianapolis Colts would be open to trading defensive end Dwight Freeney during the draft. King says the Colts would want a “good pick” for their all-time sack leader, however, and Freeney is going to be difficult to move with a $14.035 million base salary at age 32.
Freeney participated in his first offseason practice under the Colts’ new coaching staff on Thursday. He took reps at outside linebacker in Chuck Pagano’s new 3-4 defense, and indicated afterwards that he’s happy with the position switch and to be staying in Indy.
“It’s fun right now, at least, just doing something different,” Freeney said, according to the Indianapolis Star. “I’ve been doing one way for, what, 10 years going on 11 years. It’s kind of fun to do something different.”
Freeney called Pagano’s defense a “rush-friendly type of scheme, which I love.”
There’s perhaps still an outside chance the Colts will look to deal Freeney on Friday or Saturday, but they have enough salary cap space to keep him and are a better team with Freeney on the roster. Still pressuring the quarterback at a high level, Freeney recorded 8.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles last season.