Grover Stewart

Career StatsB+

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		141	13.0	409	67.5
2025		17	0.5	55	9
2024		17	3.5	74	18
2023		11

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Colts secured a fair deal with Grover Stewart's three-year, $39M extension that earns a C+ CVI, landing right in the sweet spot for a solid starter at defensive tackle. At $13M per year, Indianapolis is paying market rate for a player who consistently delivers above-average interior line play without reaching elite status — a sensible investment in positional stability rather than a premium splash. Stewart's deal reflects smart roster construction, as the Colts locked up a dependable 30-year-old defender before he could hit free agency while avoiding the inflated contracts that often plague the DT market. The $18M in guaranteed money provides reasonable security without creating long-term cap issues, giving Indianapolis flexibility if Stewart's production declines in the back half of the deal. This represents exactly the type of methodical, value-conscious move that builds sustainable defensive depth, even if it won't generate headlines or dramatically elevate the unit's ceiling.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Grover's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Grover Stewart has quietly built one of the steadiest interior defensive line careers in Indianapolis, earning a B+ grade after nine seasons and 141 games of reliable production. He's not a headline-grabber, but Stewart is exactly the kind of unblockable nose tackle that makes a defense function — freeing linebackers and setting edges without demanding attention. Among veteran run-stuffers at his position, Stewart belongs in the upper tier of his archetype. His run defense remains elite-adjacent, posting 3.24 tackles per game against an NFL average of just 1.82, approaching the elite threshold of 3.69. His TFL rate of 0.53 per game more than doubles the league average of 0.27, confirming he's a consistent disruptor in the backfield. The clear weakness is pass rush production — just 0.03 sacks per game against an NFL average of 0.14 — cementing his identity as a two-down specialist rather than a three-down weapon. Season grades tell a nuanced story: Stewart earned a B in 2024 and a B- in 2023, but has slipped to a C in 2025, reflecting the natural decline curve for a 32-year-old interior lineman. His floor remains valuable — teams pay premium prices for run-stuffers who can post his tackle and TFL numbers. Watch whether Indianapolis deploys him in more limited, situational packages to manage his workload and extend his effectiveness into the final chapter of a genuinely underrated career.

How Grover Compares at the Position

Grover Stewart ranks 26th of 216 graded defensive tackles by performance. That slots Grover between Javon Hargrave (B+) just ahead and B.j. Hill (B+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Grover Stewart enters 2026 with a notably elevated media profile following a standout interception performance against the Chargers that generated significant positive coverage. As a nine-year veteran defensive tackle on a reasonable $13M annual contract, Stewart has long been a reliable interior presence, though his career lacks Pro Bowl or All-Pro recognition. The recent headlines—particularly the 'biggest player in Colts history' framing around his interception—suggest Indianapolis media and fan perception have shifted favorably, elevating him beyond typical role-player expectations. However, the 'fleeced the Colts' narrative in one headline introduces a note of skepticism about his long-term value, tempering what might otherwise be an even more bullish assessment. Overall, Stewart's perception has moved into solid-starter-to-borderline-star territory, driven primarily by recent on-field production rather than sustained elite-level credentials.