With Xavien Howard retiring, what’s next for the Indianapolis Colts at cornerback?
With Xavien Howard retiring, what’s next for the Indianapolis Colts at cornerback?
As always, the team could explore outside options. We recently discussed one potential trade candidate from an NFC team who could make a lot of sense.
But whether or not that happens remains to be seen. The Colts could also explore free agent options, but finding an upgrade at this stage of the NFL season certainly isn’t guaranteed.
So that could leave the Colts looking internally, where they have two candidates already on the 53-man roster: Mekhi Blackmon or Johnathan Edwards.
Blackmon is likely the current front-runner to line up opposite of Charvarius Ward, given he has some NFL experience, which Lou Anarumo values in his defensive scheme. The Colts have also already leaned on Blackmon a bit this season.
Through four games, he’s played 138 defensive snaps, seeing playing time both outside and at the nickel. Blackmon has been a sound tackler, while in coverage, he’s allowed six receptions on nine targets for 137 yards–although 88 of them came against Tutu Atwell on Sunday when Blackmon fell down.
Edwards, meanwhile, an undrafted rookie, has played just 11 snaps on defense this season, according to PFF.
Cornerback is a position that the Colts have invested heavily into throughout the offseason and into the summer. However, the depth of this unit continues to be tested.
Anarumo’s disguise-heavy system can help with some of the heavy-lifting at cornerback and position these players well to make plays on the ball. But with that, a lot is also put on the plate of this position group because of that multiplicity element.
While Ward can eliminate one side of the field, that CB2 spot has been targeted heavily through four games this season by opposing quarterbacks.
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