Free agency officially starts TODAY! At 4:00 p.m. ET, the new league year will begin and deals can be signed, and so far we’ve heard the Colts connected to a number of free agents.

Another possibility? Patriots defensive end/outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard. According to the Indianapolis Star’s Stephen Holder, the Colts are “genuinely interested” in Sheard.

Sheard was drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He spent four seasons with the Browns and then signed with the Patriots in 2015, having spent the last two years in New England. In his career he has played in 89 games and has started 59 of them, recording 260 tackles, 36 sacks, eleven forced fumbles, and 18 passes defensed. He recorded five sacks with the Patriots last year, but the year before he racked up eight sacks and four forced fumbles.

He could be a very intriguing option for the Colts, providing them with a guy who can both rush the passer and defend against the run. He’s a good edge defender, and the Colts obviously need help at the spot. A number of the top pass rushers are being kept, so Jabaal Sheard would be a good potential option for the Colts. It sounds like they’re interested, but keep in mind that they can’t simply sign everyone they’re interested in. Either way, it will be a very interesting next few days.