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Colts add Houston

Pass rusher has caused problems for opponents

The Colts signed Justin Houston yesterday, and it looks like a sharp move by the franchise. Kansas City didn't want to pay the pass rusher what he was due to make in 2019, but he's still one of the league's better players at getting after the quarterback.

Houston turned 30 in January; not in his prime, perhaps, but hardly over the hill either. He had 9 sacks last season, which is a step back from his peak but still a top-25 performance. He'll slot right in as one of the Colts' top pass rushers.

Over the last five years, Houston has been a difference maker for Kansas City. There have been 43 seasons in that span where one pass rusher accounted for at least 30 percent of his team's sacks. Houston has two of them.

30 PERCENT OF TEAM SACKS, 2014-2018
YearPlayerSacksTeam%
2014J.J. Watt, Hou.20.53853.9%
2018Aaron Donald, LAR 20.54150.0%
2014Justin Houston, K.C.22.04647.8%
2017Chandler Jones, Ariz. 17.03745.9%
2016Vic Beasley, Atl.15.53445.6%
2016Khalil Mack, Oak.11.02544.0%
2015Robert Ayers, NYG9.52341.3%
2014Carlos Dunlap, Cin.8.02040.0%
2015Khalil Mack, Oak.15.03839.5%
2015J.J. Watt, Hou.17.54538.9%
2017Demarcus Lawrence, Dall. 14.53838.2%
2018J.J. Watt, Hou.16.04337.2%
2018Myles Garrett, Clev.13.53736.5%
2014Ryan Kerrigan, Wash.13.53736.5%
2016Dee Ford, K.C.10.02835.7%
2014Paul Kruger, Clev.11.03135.5%
2017Everson Griffen, Minn.13.03735.1%
2017Cameron Wake, Mia.10.53035.0%
2016Cameron Wake, Mia.11.53334.8%
2014Elvis Dumervil, Balt.17.04934.7%
2015Ezekiel Ansah, Det.14.54234.5%
2017Ezekiel Ansah, Det.12.03534.3%
2014Von Miller, Den.14.04134.1%
2017Khalil Mack, Oak.10.53133.9%
2016Erik Walden, Ind.11.03333.3%
2018Von Miller, Den.14.54433.0%
2018Jason Pierre-Paul, T.B.12.53832.9%
2015Melvin Ingram, S.D.10.53232.8%
2018Frank Clark, Sea.14.04332.6%
2018DeForest Buckner, S.F.12.03732.4%
2015Cameron Jordan, N.O.10.03132.3%
2016Von Miller, Den.13.54232.1%
2015Carlos Dunlap, Cin.13.54232.1%
2016Lorenzo Alexander, Buff.12.53932.1%
2017Cameron Jordan, N.O.13.04231.0%
2017Ryan Kerrigan, Wash.13.04231.0%
2016Kerry Hyder, Det.8.02630.8%
2015Muhammad Wilkerson, NYJ 12.03930.8%
2017Justin Houston, K.C.9.53130.6%
2016Danielle Hunter, Minn.12.54130.5%
2017Jason Pierre-Paul, NYG 8.52830.4%
2017Von Miller, Den.10.03330.3%
2016Joey Bosa, S.D.10.53530.0%

As a team, the Colts could use the help. They haven't ranked higher than 19th in sacks in any of the last four seasons. Their total over that span is better than only seven teams.

TEAM SACKS, 2015-2018
Team'15'16'17'18Tot
Pittsburgh48385652194
Carolina44475035176
Denver52423344171
Minnesota43413750171
Arizona36483749170
Chicago35374250164
Washington38384246164
Green Bay43403744164
LA Rams41314841161
Seattle37423943161
Jacksonville36335537161
Tennessee39404339161
Kansas City47283152158
New England49344230155
Philadelphia37343844153
New Orleans31304249152
Baltimore37314143152
Houston45313243151
Cincinnati42334134150
LA Chargers32354338148
Detroit42263543146
Dallas31363839144
Tampa Bay38382238136
NY Jets39272839133
Indianapolis35332538131
Atlanta19343937129
San Francisco28333037128
Cleveland29263437126
Miami31333031125
Buffalo21392736123
NY Giants23352730115
Oakland38253113107

We had some questions about the Devin Funchess signing, but in general you have to like what the Colts are doing. Staying out of the big free agent frenzy, but patiently adding a player like Houston that fills a need. They've got an extra second-round pick, an early one (from the Jets) in next month's draft that will help as well.

--Andy Richardson

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