New Colts GM Ryan Grigson has largely purged a once formidable roster, but he won't be trading DE Dwight Freeney despite recent speculation and Freeney's $19 million cap hit in 2012.

"Everything with Dwight is great. He's going to be here this year," Grigson said Monday. "We expect him to be a major contributor and a guy who strikes fear in our opponents and those offensive linemen every week.

"It sure makes me sleep better at night knowing those two guys (Freeney and DE Robert Mathis) are going to be bringing it on third down."

Freeney, a seven-time Pro Bowler, has 102.5 sacks in 10 seasons with the Colts, including 8.5 last year. He specializes in the strip sack and has forced 43 fumbles in his career.

A quintessential edge rusher, there are questions as to how well he can adapt to new HC Chuck Pagano's preferred 3-4 defense after being a 4-3 end his entire NFL career. The 6-1, 268-pound Freeney may not be as strong a candidate to switch to outside linebacker as Mathis (6-2, 245), who just received a four-year, $36 million contract.

Regardless, though the Colts aren't talking extension with Freeney right now -- he'll be a free agent in 2013 -- Grigson says they are keeping him for at least this season.

"There are a lot of rumors that fly, but there's never been any substance that would suggest we're doing anything like that," he said of the swirling trade talk.

"He's a Colt, period."