For Charvarius Ward, the trade deadline isn’t some abstract NFL calendar date. It’s suddenly part of the daily conversation.
The Colts cornerback said Monday that he’s never been in this kind of situation before, with a team sliding hard and personnel moves already underway. Indianapolis has dropped five straight and sits at 2-7 after Sunday’s 27-23 loss to the Cowboys at Lucas Oil Stadium, and Ward said the uncertainty around the roster has been hard to miss.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been through this before. I’ve only been on winning teams, so I’ve never been through a trade deadline where we were just trading players,” Ward said. “It is what it is.
“It’s the business of the NFL, and we’re losing right now, so I don’t know what the higher-ups’ mindset is right now, whether to finish out the season and maybe go on a run, win the last eight games, finish 10-7 and try and make the playoffs, or plan for the future.”
From the outside, the direction looks obvious. The Colts have lost 14 of their last 16, principal team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon has fired longtime general manager Chris Ballard, and the team has already dealt captains Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner as it builds up draft capital for a rebuild.
That has only intensified the speculation around other names ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. trade deadline. Jonathan Taylor, with more than two years left on his contract, is viewed as the team’s most valuable trade piece.
Josh Downs asked for a trade two weeks ago. Daniel Jones is also in the mix.
Ward’s own situation is part of the conversation, too. He’s in Year 2 of a three-year deal, counts $19.866 million against the cap this season, and his cap hit jumps to $24.7 million in 2027, when his $17.49 million base salary is not guaranteed.
Still, Ward said he believes he has plenty left in the tank. He has played in all nine games and been on the field for 89% of the Colts’ defensive snaps.
Among qualified defenders who have allowed a catch rate below 50% as the nearest defender in coverage, according to Next Gen Stats, Ward ranks fifth in coverage snaps with 265. He has been targeted 35 times, sixth-most in that group, and has given up 16 catches for 217 yards, a 66.0 passer rating and no touchdowns.
He has not intercepted a pass, but he described his play as “under the radar” and “sticky” in coverage.
That confidence extends to his future in the league. Ward said he can see himself playing for a while longer, as long as his body cooperates.
“Hell yeah, I’m gonna continue to play. I’ve been playing good, man, covering well.
I haven’t had any head stuff, and my mentals are in a good place. I’ve got my family.
I’ve got God, and I’m happy, bro,” Ward said, noting that his partner, Monique, and the couple’s oldest son moved to the Indianapolis-area to live with him full-time earlier this year after living apart in his first season. The couple welcomed a second child in late-September.
“I can go another two or three years, but it just depends on how my body reacts.
“I just listen to my body. Like I say all the time, I’ve made all the bread I’ve wanted to make.
I’ve done a lot of things I wanted to do in the NFL. I’m having fun again, and I’m gonna continue to play as long as my body allows me and I’m still having fun.”
Ward said he hopes that means staying in Indianapolis through the rest of his contract.
“Yeah, I’ve thought a little bit (about my future). I feel like it’s on everybody’s mind, man.
If you’re a good player, you feel like you’ve got a little value around the league, and teams might be interested in you,” he said. “You know, if a team needs a corner, I don’t know if they’re gonna look for (me) cause (I’m) making $20 million a year, so I don’t know if they’re going to come and try to get (me).
“But I thought about it, bro. I’m just where my feet (are) at.
I’m happy in Indy, man. I’ve got my family out here.
I get to see my son everyday, so I’m cool here. But if they trade me, it is what it is, but I hope I stay here for sure.”
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