On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Indianapolis Colts needed plenty of help in their defensive secondary, and Chris Ballard addressed this with two massive signings in cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Camryn Bynum.
Lou Anarumo is the new defensive coordinator and was walking into a situation where the Colts allowed a rough 229.4 passing yards per game, ranking 26th in the NFL last year.
Now, it looks like the Colts' secondary has been restored (to a degree) with Ward joining Jaylon Jones, Kenny Moore II, Sam Womack III, and JuJu Brents. As for Bynum, he teams up with Nick Cross to shore up the safety position.
In an article from The Athletic, Ted Nguyen points out that the secondary is 'massively upgraded' due to the additions of Ward and Bynum while discussing names like DeForest Buckner.
The Colts already had pass rushers with DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye and promising second-year defensive end Laiatu Latu. Now, they've massively upgraded the secondary through free agency with the additions of Cam Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward. Ted Nguyen | The Athletic
Nguyen isn't wrong, the Colts secondary was a rollercoaster in 2024 and didn't have much semblance of consistency. We'll start with the former Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro Ward.
Ward had a down season in 2024 but was dealing with personal issues and tragedy, limiting his commitment to the game.
#Colts CB Charvarius Ward on a hard 2024 season that included the death of his daughter:
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) March 13, 2025
“Physically I was on the football field, but mentally I was kind of like retired. My mind wasn’t on the game …
“After the season, I just got that hunger back. I start missing the game.” pic.twitter.com/pERxVFHLwr
Now, things are different with Ward, who has found the fire that made him a deadly defender in 2023. That year, he led the NFL in pass deflections with 23 and caught five picks, returning one for a touchdown.
Ward's career numbers speak for themselves, and he's also a former Super Bowl champion when he was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. In short, Ward brings a winning pedigree to Indianapolis.
Next is dynamic ball hawk Bynum, who brings his versatile style to the Colts from the Brian Flores defense with the Minnesota Vikings. Per Pro Football Focus, he played in plenty of spots during the 2024 season, with 742 snaps at safety, 139 in the slot, and 128 in the box.
He's an exceptional run defender and will bring the pain to opposing ground attacks with Cross. Don't be surprised if Bynum also meets or tops his three interceptions (career high) from last season, as it's his specialty to be in the right place at the right time.
Camryn Bynum made a play on the football (pass defended or INT) on 27.8% of his targets last season, the 4th-highest rate in the NFL (min. 30 targets).@Colts | #ForTheShoe https://t.co/0VIQJGlo47 pic.twitter.com/xqk5fZK2Ro
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) March 12, 2025
The Colts are happy with their signings and should be. Ward and Bynum amplify what Anarumo can implement as a coordinator and in the defensive backfield. These were arguably the top needs for Indy outside of tight end.
It will be intriguing to see how the Colts look on defense with two high-level additions in 2025 and a fresh mind in Anarumo's approach.
Recommended Articles
More must-reads:
- Report: Bengals' Trey Hendrickson considering drastic move amid contract dispute
- Lions sign longtime Eagles CB
- The 'Single-season passing leaders for each NFL franchise' quiz
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Commanders Predicted To Trade Star Running Back in Surprise
The Washington Commanders have put good pieces around rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, with Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil signed to fix and upgrade two key positions this offseason. The franchise also re-signed tight end Zach Ertz, quarterback Marcus Mariota, and linebacker Bobby Wagner to help keep those who helped establish Dan Quinn's culture last season. But the Commanders might not be done in the player acquisition business this offseason, but due to the trades of Samuel and Tunsil, the franchise only has five draft selections to work with. Could more be on their way? In what is a neat exercise, Pro Football Focus has named each team's best trade asset, and when it comes to Washington, running back Brian Robinson Jr. is deemed to have some currency. "The Commanders’ offseason has centered on upgrading the pieces around Jayden Daniels," Pro Football Focus writes. "In that sense, it might seem paradoxical to trade Robinson, but there would be good reasons to do so. His PFF rushing grade has declined in all three seasons, and his 34 missed tackles forced in 2024 tied for 27th out of 31 qualified rushers. With Robinson only under contract for one more year and this draft class being rich at the position, trading him in favor of a rookie would be plausible." Having just one year left on his rookie deal, Robinson Jr. has been a solid contributor in his three seasons, rushing for over 700 yards each year and he's coming off his best return touchdown-wise of his career with eight in 2024. So he has been a reliable performer for Washington, and his bruising and powerful running style could be attributes that some teams might clamor for. Plus, with the draft class loaded with running backs, the Commanders might try to get a late-round pick for B-Rob and then attack the draft for his replacement. Having been a good solider for Quinn last season, it would be odd to see Robinson Jr. be shown the door, but the NFL is a results business, and if moving on from Brian is what is best for the team, they'll do it.
Oilers will not be able to make roster move with Evander Kane requiring his approval
The Edmonton Oilers got great news today when Evander Kane returned to the ice for his first practice of the season, and now plans for his return are on. The Oilers have confirmed that Kane is ruled out for the entirety of the regular season, meaning he'll return some time in the playoffs. However, he could be playing games sooner. Oilers could send Evander Kane to AHL conditioning stint with his approvals One avenue for teams to rehab players coming back from long absences has been the AHL conditioning stint, sending down a player to play a few games in the minor league and get up to speed. He clearly wasn't going full effort in practice today. According to a salary cap expert on social media, Evander Kane cannot be activated and sent to the AHL, but a long term injury conditioning loan is possible if Kane agrees to the roster move. Even if the Oilers can persuade Kane to accept the roster move, there will be one major wrinkle. The Bakersfield Condors regular season ends on March 29th, and the team won't be making the playoffs this season. The Oilers season ends on April 16th, so it would be impossible for Kane to join the AHL team for a conditioning loan next week and return to Edmonton without getting put back on the active roster. It's unfortunate, but Kane will need to find a way to get back up to speed while just in practice with the Edmonton Oilers. The encouraging factor is that Kane was still very good last season - scoring 24 goals and leading the team in hits at 32 years old - and still playing through injury all year.
Beat writer addresses if Jets, Jaxson Dart rumors are a 'smokescreen'
The Athletic's Mike Sando raised eyebrows when he shared a mock draft on March 5 that suggested some NFL executives believe the New York Jets will select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart via the seventh pick of the 2025 draft. Jets beat writer Antwan Staley of the New York Daily News addressed Friday if rumors linking Gang Green with Dart are "just a smokescreen to entice other teams to trade up" for the prospect widely viewed as the third-best signal-caller in his draft class. "I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jets selected Dart seventh overall," Staley wrote. "There were rumors during the NFL Combine that the organization was enamored with Dart and that they still need a long-term solution at quarterback." Staley pointed out that the Jets can escape the two-year, $40M deal with $30M guaranteed they gave Justin Fields in free agency as soon as next offseason. Numerous NFL community members are skeptical that Fields will become a franchise quarterback after he failed to cement himself as a first-choice starter during stints with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, The Athletic's Ted Nguyen is among those who think Dart needs to "sit, learn a playbook and clean up his footwork" as a backup for a QB1 such as Fields. It seems likely that Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders will be the first two quarterbacks drafted on April 24. Some believe the Cleveland Browns will take Sanders as the second overall choice, assuming Ward is off the board, but others think Sanders could slide to the Jets. "Some people around the organization like his skill set and believe Dart is a first-round talent," Staley added about the Jets. The New York Giants (pick No. 3), New Orleans Saints (pick No. 9), Seattle Seahawks (No. 18), Steelers (No. 21) and Los Angeles Rams (No. 26) are among the potential landing spots for Dart, depending on when Sanders is taken. If the Jets are enamored with Dart, hoping to trade back into the first round to get him may not be a risk worth taking.
JJ Redick sends strong message to LeBron James after missed game
The Los Angeles Lakers continued their strong push toward the postseason with a win over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. The victory marked their third straight win, moving them up to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with just 14 games left in the regular season. Despite missing four-time MVP LeBron James, who was sidelined for a fifth straight game with a groin injury suffered on March 8 against the Boston Celtics, L.A. has found momentum thanks to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The duo stepped up once again against Denver, with Doncic delivering 31 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Reaves added 22 points, five rebounds and eight assists to fuel the Lakers' win. Although the Lakers have found a winning rhythm of late, James’ absence was deeply felt early on, particularly during their losing streak on the road. His impact on defense has been notably missed, with the Lakers often looking disorganized on that end of the floor. Head coach JJ Redick acknowledged just how valuable James is to the team, sharing a direct message to the NBA's all-time leading scorer before their matchup against Denver. "You know who we miss? We miss your voice on the defensive end," Redick said to James after his fourth straight missed game. Even at 40 years old, James continues to defy expectations in his 22nd NBA season, remaining one of the league’s top performers. The 21-time All-Star is averaging 25.0 points, 8.5 assists and 8.2 rebounds per game while shooting 51.7% from the field. With the playoffs fast approaching, the Lakers are hoping to have James back in the lineup sooner rather than later. According to Redick, the superstar is considered day-to-day, and the Lakers will be eager for his return as they gear up for a deep playoff run in an ultra-competitive Western Conference.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
