It’s been weeks since Bleacher Report suggested that the Indianapolis Colts sign a player midseason.
However, it appears that the BR scouting department wants to see general manager Chris Ballard make a trade during the Week 14 bye.
After remaining unsigned for the entire 2024 season, former Miami Dolphins All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard has been named a fit for Indianapolis as the team enters a critical last four games of the season, according to Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report.
“There isn’t much that can be done to improve the defense at this stage, but Xavien Howard is one of the few free agents who can still make a difference. “He was still playing cornerback at a reasonable level last season, and the Colts could benefit from his experience,” Ballentine said.
According to Bleacher Report, cornerback is the Colts’ fifth-largest need, with the team ranking 26th in league pass defense through the first 13 weeks of the 2024 season. Indianapolis’ defense has allowed 17 passing touchdowns and 232.4 passing yards per game, resulting in an average of 23 points per game.
Howard, 31, is coming off the second-lowest Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of any Dolphins defense in 2023, ending with a 55 after 13 games.
However, the Baylor alum made four Pro Bowl appearances during a five-season period from 2018 to 2022, including an All-Pro First Team selection in 2020.
Howard has made 29 interceptions, 95 pass deflections, 331 tackles, and four forced fumbles in 100 career games.
While his heyday is clearly behind him, the Colts have shown in the past that they can briefly rejuvenate a veteran cornerback’s career, as shown with Xavier Rhodes and Stephon Gilmore.
Last week, Bleacher Report pushed Indianapolis to sign Detroit Lions standout cornerback Carlton Davis in the 2025 offseason, but a switch to Howard before the season ends could obviate that requirement for at least another year.
