Latest news with #CharvariusWard
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Colts' free agent signee stands out on Day 1 of training camp
One of the Colts' free agent signees was able to stand out during the team's first training camp practice. Indianapolis Colts' free agent signee, cornerback Charvarius Ward, impressed during the team's first training camp practice. "Very impressed," Shane Steichen said of Ward, via Locked on Colts. "Great signing by Chris (Ballard) to get him on this football team. You saw how sticky he was and the plays he made. I don't know how many he made today, but he made a ton. Great to have him out there." According to the Indy Star's Joel Erickson, two of the plays that Ward made in practice were pass breakups against Alec Pierce on a deep route and then against Michael Pittman. This offseason, the Colts signed Ward to a three-year, $54 million free agent deal. He joins the Colts one year removed from an All-Pro season in 2023. That year, Ward had five interceptions, 17 pass breakups, and allowed a completion rate of just 54%, per PFF. Beyond the production, Ward brings winning experience to the Colts defense--something this team doesn't have a lot of--having played in two Super Bowls, winning one of them. He's also a great fit for Lou Anarumo's defensive system, with his ability to play on an island and match up with a variety of wide receiver skill sets. "It's go time," Ward said via Locked on Colts after practice. "It's training camp time. It isn't time to be eased into anything right now. I'm getting ready for the season. We're getting ready for a long run, hopefully to make the playoffs. We all in, 10 toes deep right now." Ward, along with Cam Bynum and Anarumo calling the plays, will play a key role in turning this Colts' secondary around this season. A year ago, the Colts ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in passer rating, completion rate, pass deflections, and yards per pass attempt allowed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN selects favorite offseason move made by Indianapolis Colts
ESPN's Seth Walder handed out offseason grades for each team. When it came to the Indianapolis Colts, Walder was a fan of the moves GM Chris Ballard made. His favorite move of the bunch, however, was the signing of free agent cornerback Charvarius Ward. "The Ward deal (three years at $18 million per year) was strong," wrote Walder. "Ward has allowed 1.0 yards per coverage snap (better than average) or better in five of the past six seasons, per NFL Next Gen Stats." Advertisement Ward was an All-Pro during the 2023 season. That year he allowed a completion rate of 54% while coming away with five interceptions and 17 pass breakups, per PFF. Ward is also an excellent fit for Lou Anarumo's defensive scheme. He is comfortable covering a variety of wide receiver skill sets, has had strong ball production, and Ward has no problem being left on an island. In fact, Anarumo has already mentioned that we could see Ward shadowing the opponent's top wideout if that's what the game plan calls for. "He's been a really good player," said Anarumo of Ward. "A really consistent corner in our league for a long time. He can matchup on the best receivers, he's got length, he guards bigger guys but he's quick enough to handle short, faster guys, and he's a good tackler. He's a full package, for sure." Beyond the production and schematic fit, Ward brings winning experience to the Colts' defense--an element that is missing--having appeared in two Super Bowls, winning one of them. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts' signing CB Charvarius Ward named most 'liked' offseason move
Indianapolis Star
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Most essential Colts No. 7: Can Charvarius Ward bounce back to No. 1 outside CB status?
In a salary-cap league like the NFL, finding building blocks is essential. As teams churn and burn the roster through the draft and bargain signings in free agency, it helps to find the players who are either a cut above the rest or can perform a task few others can. They relieve the pressure on everyone. Over the next few weeks, we'll be ranking the 15 most essential players to the Colts' success entering the 2025 season. It's a subjective process, weighing factors such as ability, positional value within a scheme, age, leadership and durability. To make it simpler, we're asking the following two questions about these players: 1. How difficult would he be to replace for more than a month? 2. What does the Colts' ceiling become in 2025 and beyond if this player hits his? Unlike in recent seasons, the pressure appears to be ramping up on what this year's Colts team needs to accomplish. Anthony Richardson enters a critical third season with plenty to prove. The team is under new ownership with Jim Irsay's passing and the transition to his three daughters. And the Colts have now not made the playoffs for four seasons, with no playoff wins in six and no AFC South titles in 10. Thus, these rankings will skew a little more toward 2025 importance than they have in recent seasons. Here's the list so far: 8. Camryn Bynum, safety 9. Quenton Nelson, guard 10. Tyler Warren, tight end 11. Laiatu Latu, defensive end 12. Daniel Jones, quarterback 13. Kenny Moore II, cornerback 14. Zaire Franklin, linebacker 15. Alec Pierce, wide receiver Up next is No. 7, Charvarius Ward. Position: Cornerback Age: 29 Experience: 8th season Last year's rank: N/A 2024 stats: 54 tackles, 0 interceptions, 7 passes defensed with 12 starts in 12 games for the 49ers Why he's here: The second whammy of the Colts' overhaul of the secondary this offseason was to bring in an All-Pro outside cornerback to man one of the most impactful positions on the field. That's what Charvarius Ward is here to do on a three-year, $54 million deal. The Colts signed the eighth-year pro at a slight discount after his worst season but still at the premium that comes with signing an All-Pro at this position. Just two seasons ago, Ward was at the top of his game. He started all 17 games for a second straight season with the 49ers. He intercepted five passes, taking one back for a touchdown. He led the NFL with 23 passes defensed and started in the Super Bowl. Last year was a different story, as he fell to 12 games played with zero turnovers, but he had some extenuating circumstances: He was dealing with the tragic loss of his daughter and had to go back and forth from San Francisco to Dallas to manage the tragedy. The Colts signed Ward believing just a little bit of distance from that tragedy can get him back to the player he was for the six seasons previously. That one picked off 10 passes, had double-digit pass breakups in four different seasons, started in two Super Bowls and won one in 2019 with the Chiefs. The little bit of uncertainty off last year's down season is the one factor that keeps him below the player who will slot in at No. 5 on this list. But this is about as high as a defensive player can get on a team constructed the way this one is. It showcases just how essential Ward is to where the Colts are trying to go, as he has to create a ripple effect in Lou Anarumo's man-heavy secondary that allows Jaylon Jones to cover less speedy players as a No. 2 option, Camryn Bynum to be a busy bee rotating between spots, Nick Cross to stay out of primary coverage and Kenny Moore II to free up as a blitzer and disguise defender. It all hinges on the No. 1 outside cornerback, which the Colts have rarely had in recent seasons. If they get it back in Ward, the way he was prior to last season, they'll have a chance to turn a porous defense into one that pushes for the top 10 in the league.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
49ers' CB Search Should Include These 3 Free Agents
49ers' CB Search Should Include These 3 Free Agents originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Reports of front office activity late in the NFL free-agency period has indicated that the San Francisco 49ers are in search of a new cornerback. Advertisement Standout cover man Charvarius Ward signed a new contract with the Indianapolis Colts and promising youngster Deommodore Lenoir just got arrested last week, meaning his potential punishment is still up in the air. The Niners would - and should - want to defend against a possible Lenoir suspension by signing a free agent. Everyone behind Lenoir on the depth chart is unproven in their ability on the field. According to UFL executive and former Dallas Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston, San Francisco had made an effort to sign former Las Vegas Raiders troubled corner Damon Arnette, who has not seen NFL action since his second year in the league in 2021 after a series of issues with the law. Ultimately, he would sign for the veteran minimum with the Houston Texans, but this urgency shown by general manager John Lynch says that the 49ers are keeping the position in the top of their mind ahead of training camp. Are they desperate? That depends on how they feel about what they currently have. Advertisement Renardo Green, the player penciled in at the moment to take over for Ward, saw some action last season, but he was just a rookie that still may not be ready for a full-season work load. Tre Brown has just 13 starts in four seasons and was used most last season on special teams. The 49ers' third-round pick Upton Stout is a rookie, so who knows what he could turn into and when. There are many free agent cornerbacks still without a home. San Francisco should investigate these three as potential signing options. Asante Samuel Jr. There is a lot of upside here given that the Los Angeles Chargers corner is just 25 years old, but he is coming off shoulder and neck injuries that limited him to just four games played last year. He will be undergoing a medical re-check at the end of this month. With second-round draft pedigree, Samuel is labeled by ESPN as a promising pickup for whatever team that gets him. "Samuel has a playmaking mentality at cornerback, with the foot quickness and sudden closing speed to break on the ball," writes Matt Bowen. Advertisement He has six interceptions and 26 passes defensed in his four years with the Chargers. Adding Samuel on the outside could allow Green to fill in on the opposite side and let Lenoir play his more comfortable position in the slot, of course, if he avoids any league-issued punishment. Samuel is expected to demand a large salary due to this upside, but maybe his injury could play to the Niners benefit and force him to accept a discounted contract. Rasul Douglas Bowen names the Buffalo Bills veteran as the best remaining free agent across all positions. "Douglas is a physical corner with the length to disrupt the ball and the willingness to set an edge against the run (five tackles for loss last season)," Bowen said. "He's an easy fit in a zone system that allows him to reroute underneath and attack the ball from the outside third of the field. Douglas returned one of his five interceptions for a touchdown in 2023, and he had five pass breakups last season." Advertisement Under returning defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, the 49ers are expected to play a lot of zone this season, making Douglas appear to be a perfect fit. He will turn 30 next month, but with solid production as an every-game starter last season, it's safe to assume he's got a few more good years in him. Mike Hilton The 49ers desperately want to improve their 18th-ranked run defense from a season ago. The veteran Hilton is among the best downhill run-stoppers from the cornerback position. Bowen writes: "A slot corner who plays with a sense of urgency, Hilton had 12 tackles for loss and eight pressures last season. He has a natural feel for playing in space as a coverage defender with the aggressive mentality to tackle and blitz on the edges. In eight seasons, Hilton has 13 interceptions, 11.5 sacks and 34 pass breakups." Advertisement San Francisco has the second-most cap space in the NFL at almost $46 million to spend. It's time to spend it. These three are just a few of the handful of cornerbacks available that could be immediate starters and let the young 49ers find their way. Related: 49ers Controversial Signing Interest About 'Desperation' vs.' Deserving' Related: 49ers Could Bolster Secondary With Trade for Bucs Corner This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
49ers Could Bolster Secondary With Trade for Bucs Corner
49ers Could Bolster Secondary With Trade for Bucs Corner originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The San Francisco 49ers lost star cornerback Charvarius Ward in free agency to the Indianapolis Colts, so they might be looking for another player to step in and take his place. Advertisement And they could get that player through the trade market. One player who has had some buzz around him this offseason is Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean. The reigning NFC South champions selected a pair of corners in the 2025 NFL Draft, so they could consider turning the page an d trading Dean ... if it's for the right price. The Niners allowed the fifth-least passing yards in the NFL this past season, so they will be hoping they can keep up that level of play in 2025. And trading for a consistent performer like Dean at the cornerback position could be in the team's best interests. The 28-year-old defensive back only played in 12 games this past season due to some knee injuries, but he still had a very solid year. He racked up 59 total tackles, 45 of them being solo, as well as forcing one fumble. He was also able to show his ball-hawk skills with an interception and seven pass deflections. Advertisement The Buccaneers have made the playoffs each of the last five seasons, with the first of those seasons ending in the team's second Super Bowl win ever. But with them drafting more corners in this year's draft, they could consider trading Dean. And if they do, the Niners are one of the teams that could take advantage of that. Related: 49ers Prepare for Roster Shakeup in Way-Too-Early Mock Draft Related: 49ers Trade Rumors Swirl Amid Brandon Aiyuk Statement This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
