New Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard had multiple free agency options, including teams with more openings on their depth chart.
Still, Stuard signed a one-year deal with the Lions, citing team culture, their style of play, and the opportunity to contribute to a contender as key factors in his decision.
The 26-year-old previously spent three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts after being drafted in the seventh round by the Houston Texans in 2021. He has missed just two games, playing 17 in three of his four seasons. Stuard started five games for the Colts last season, showcasing his defensive skills after logging over 1,200 special teams snaps in four years.
“Culture, immediately. From watching Detroit, playing against them, my family rooting for them forever since Campbell’s been here. I feel like I knew a lot about them,” Stuard said. “I feel like they’re widely covered. I’m a guy that I love to work hard, I love to improve, I love to be coached. I’m really big on just trying to be the best version of myself every single day, and I feel like this is an environment that’s super conducive to that.”
“Especially just talking to my agent, talking with some guys I played with like Pat O’Connor. It just really spoke to, ‘Well, if this is the type of guy that you are, this is the type of team that is.’ So I feel like it was a good fit.”
Detroit already has veteran leader Alex Anzalone and former first-round pick Jack Campbell at linebacker. They recently extended Derrick Barnes on a three-year, $25.5 million deal and re-signed Anthony Pittman, Trevor Nowaske, and Ezekiel Turner. Malcolm Rodriguez also returned to the rotation last year, creating a deep linebacker unit with several proven special teams contributors.
“I think it’s also clear from a demonstration standpoint with Detroit that they’re going to play the best 11 in the best situation on the best down—you know what I’m saying?” Stuard said.
“Like, specifics of what’s going on specifically on the field. I got to see a little bit of that when I was in Indy, as far as we’d play a Lamar Jackson or something like that, I’d come in and maybe add to the blitz package or spy him or something like that, and so, that’s something that they said that they do here. And at the end of the day, I’m going to compete.”
“If I’m not getting a lot of playing time on a great team, that’s just inspiring for me to improve, versus, I can go to a team maybe not as good or go to a team with a room that has a lot more question marks than this team, which I had some opportunities to do that. But I’m just excited about adding value here, about improving, about learning from some guys who are established.”
Stuard noted that learning from Zaire Franklin in Indianapolis helped him grow the most in his career. He’s eager to work with Detroit’s linebackers and reunite with Rodriguez, whom he played with at the Senior Bowl.
The linebacker could have joined a team needing starting-caliber players based on his Week 7 performance alone. In his first career start, Stuard recorded 19 tackles, including one for a loss, while playing a career-high 64 defensive snaps.
However, he isn’t concerned about that, even after seeing extended defensive action for the first time. Instead, he’s joining a defense where snaps will be hard to earn, alongside an established special teams unit.
“Yeah, definitely talked to (special teams) coach (Dave) Fipp today,” Stuard said. “Got to ask him a couple of questions. He got to hear from me a little bit. It’s just about connection. I didn’t know of him until we were about to play them and stuff like that and got to studying the coach and the opponent and stuff like that. I think that what we can relate a whole lot over is energy.”
“That’s what I saw from him when I met with him. And, also, that’s what I’ve been hearing about him, as well. I’m a high-energy guy. I play with high energy.”
