INDIANAPOLIS – Upgrading the secondary was primary, and expensive.
Shortly after investing heavily in free-agent safety Camryn Bynum, the Indianapolis Colts added arguably the top cornerback on the open market.
The team has agreed to a three-year deal with former San Francisco cornerback Charvarius Ward, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The contract is worth a maximum of $60 million and includes a $20 million signing bonus and $35 million in guarantees, according to ESPN and other outlets.
Ward’s lucrative deal follows the four-year, $60 million agreement the Colts reached with Bynum.
In short order, Chris Ballard arranged the two largest free-agent contracts in his nine seasons as general manager by adding two players he had targeted in the days leading up to free agency.
He also added two key components to first-year coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense. Ward steps in as one outside corner and Bynum as the free safety alongside strong safety Nick Cross.
The Athletic ranked Ward as its top available cornerback and the No. 6 overall.
Ward, who turns 29 next month, has started 46 of 51 games the last three seasons with San Francisco. He signed with Dallas as an undrafted rookie in 2018, was traded to Kansas City and emerged as a defensive standout with the Chiefs from 2019-21.
The 6-1, 196-pounder started for Kansas City in its 31-20 win over San Francisco in Super Bowl LIV and its 31-9 loss to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl LV.
Ward earned his only Pro Bowl nod in 2023 and was named second-team All-Pro on the strength of five interceptions and a league-high 23 passes defended, then started 12 games for the Niners last season.
He dealt with hamstring and knee injuries in 2024, but also with personal tragedy. In October, Ward suffered the loss of his 1-year-old daughter Amani Joy.
At the end of the season, he told members of the media a new location might prove beneficial.
“You know, I’ve got a lot of trauma in California,’’ Ward said. “There were great times, but the worst thing that’s happened to me – that’s probably ever gonna happen to me, knock on wood – happened in California. It just brings back bad memories.’’
That fresh start will be in Indy.
No one should be surprised that Ballard has invested so heavily in Anarumo’s secondary.
The Colts’ defense ranked No. 29 overall and No. 26 against the pass last season. It allowed quarterbacks to complete 69.4% of their passes (3rd-worst in the league) and average 7.6 yards per attempt (8th-worst).
The cornerback room includes top nickel Kenny Moore II; Jaylon Jones, who started all 17 games in ’24; and JuJu Brents, who’s missed 23 of 34 games because of injury since being selected in round 2 of the 2023 draft.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.