The Colts are betting on new cornerback Charvarius Ward regaining his prior All-Pro and Pro Bowl form from 2023.
According to PFF, new Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward is projected to be the team’s ‘bounce-back candidate’ for the 2025 campaign:
Indianapolis Colts: CB Charvarius Ward
Ward recorded a career-low 58.2 coverage grade in 2024. The 49ers allowed him to depart in free agency, and he landed in Indianapolis, where he should be a good fit in Lou Anarumo’s zone-heavy defense. Ward’s 66.3 zone-coverage grade last season was more in line with his career norms, and during his standout 2023 campaign, he earned an 86.5 coverage grade, 10th among qualified cornerbacks.
In the midst of personal tragedy—as his infant daughter tragically passed away in October of this past year, Ward had an uncharacteristic final season in San Francisco, earning just a +56.2 overall grade during 2024.
He also had 54 tackles (38 solo), a tackle for loss, and 7 passes defensed during 12 starts.
Still, in early free agency, the Colts wasted no time signing Ward to a lucrative 3-year deal, worth up to $60 million, believing that he can regain his prior All-Pro and Pro Bowl form from back in 2023 with the 49ers—with a much needed change of scenery.
After all, he’s just a year removed from that standout campaign in which he was one of the best outside cornerbacks in football and earned a +84.7 overall grade—highlighted by a +86.5 coverage grade. He’s also a willing tackler along the perimeter.
Under new veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Ward’s much anticipated offseason arrival drastically improves the Colts secondary, especially in combination with free agent safety signing Camryn Bynum.
Anarumo has a lot more horses among his defensive backs to deploy and shore up his unit.
Ward instantly becomes Indy’s new bona fide CB1 (which they really haven’t had since the late great Vontae Davis back in 2015), and he’s expected at times to shadow the opposing team’s best wide receiver all over the field.