Feb. 2, 2026, 3:09 p.m. ET
What free agent signing by the Indianapolis Colts would you consider the “worst” of the 2025 offseason?
Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus recently answered that question for each NFL team. When it came to the Colts, Locker selected cornerback Xavien Howard.
“The former Dolphin allowed 195 yards and a 139.2 passer rating when targeted across the first four games of the season before retiring thereafter,” Locker wrote.
Due to injuries at cornerback during training camp, Howard was a late addition to the Colts’ roster. From his time in Miami and experience playing in a variety of schemes, Howard was able to acclimate on the fly to Lou Anarumo’s scheme.
Howard would get the start at cornerback for the Colts, but struggled with those opportunities, with quarterbacks often going right at him.
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In four games, Howard allowed a completion rate of 73% on 22 targets, giving up 12.2 yards per catch. He had no ball production and was penalized four times.
Howard then retired after the Colts’ Week 4 game against the LA Rams.
The Colts didn’t get the production that they were hoping for from Howard, but this was always a low-risk, inexpensive deal that they signed him to. The fact that this was Locker’s pick for the Colts says that Chris Ballard had success in free agency last offseason.