Tag: Xavier Rhodes

Contract details emerge for Colts CB Xavier Rhodes

Contract details for Xavier Rhodes.

The Indianapolis Colts are bringing back veteran cornerback Xavier Rhodes on a one-year deal and that contract now has the full details revealed.

According to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle, Rhodes gets a one-year deal worth $4.77 million, which is lower than what was initially reported at $6.5 million. His one-yer deal also includes incentives for playtime, interceptions and making the Pro Bowl.

https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/1376289484938096643

Rhodes enjoyed a strong bounce-back season with the Colts during the 2020 campaign. He solidified himself as the team’s top boundary corner while Kenny Moore worked in the slot.

According to Pro Football Focus, Rhodes earned an overall grade of 77.3 last season, which was good for the eighth-best of any cornerback.

Though he did give up five touchdown passes, he only allowed a completion rate of 51.9% in coverage, giving up just 42 completions on 81 targets. Rhodes will remain a starter at cornerback, bringing some stability to the secondary.

With Rhodes returning and Marvell Tell expected to be back after opting out due to concerns with COVID-19, the depth in the secondary should be better.

It still wouldn’t be a surprise if they added a young cornerback in the draft for development purposes behind the veteran Rhodes.

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Colts officially re-sign CB Xavier Rhodes

Rhodes is back officially.

The Indianapolis Colts officially re-signed cornerback Xavier Rhodes, the team announced Wednesday.

The Rhodes signing was reported late last week and while the Colts allowed him to test the market, they were able to bring him back on a one-year deal.

After the Minnesota Vikings released Rhodes during the 2020 offseason, the Colts scooped him up to replace Pierre Desir, who they cut in order to make room for the former first-round pick in Rhodes.

Leading the cornerback room, Rhodes had a strong season for the Colts. Many thought it would lead to a multi-year deal somewhere but the lowered salary cap for 2021 resulted in him signing a one-year deal.

Though he did give up five touchdown passes, he only allowed a completion rate of 51.9% in coverage, giving up just 42 completions on 81 targets. Rhodes will remain a starter at cornerback, bringing some stability to the secondary.

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State of the Colts CB room after re-signing Xavier Rhodes

How does the CB room look after re-signing Xavier Rhodes?

On Saturday afternoon, the Indianapolis Colts and eight-year cornerback Xavier Rhodes agree to a one-year deal reportedly for a maximum value of $6.5 million dollars.

The 30-year old Rhodes will enter his ninth NFL season, second with the Colts, and is a key re-signing for Indianapolis after a strong 2019 season.

Now that Rhodes is re-signed, cornerback isn’t as big of a need for the Colts as they head towards the draft given that the positional group is a little deeper now.

Here’s how the cornerback group looks now with the re-signing of Xavier Rhodes:

Starters

Indianapolis will return their starters next season, Kenny Moore, and Rhodes, and that will be key as the Colts will be facing top flight WR this year, including DeAndre Hopkins, D.K. Metcalf, Stephon Diggs, among others.

Rotational pieces

While Rock Ya-Sin is not technically a starter, he plays over 50% of the snaps. While he was bugged with injuries and inconsistent play in 2020, Ya-Sin still played 53% of the snaps on defense. Look for him to be in the mix for CB3 this year.

Fresh off opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, Marvell Tell will be looking to compete with Ya-Sin for the CB3 spot. Tell had promising moments late in the 2019 season, but there are a lot of questions on what he’s been doing with his down time this past season.

Outsiders

Isaiah Rodgers was a spark plug on special teams last year, but played little to no snaps in his rookie season on defense. He did have an eye-catching near-interception in the wild card game vs the Buffalo Bills. Look for him to be in the mix during camp.

The Colts also have Nick Nelson who had played in 10 career games, all in 2019. And Roderic Teamer, who last played in 2019 with the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Xavier Rhodes to return to Colts on 1-year deal

The contract is double what Rhodes made last season with the Colts.

Former Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes had the type of bounce-back season the Colts were looking for in 2020.

It was enough that the team decided to bring him back on a one-year, $6.5 million deal per multiple reports.

Rhodes started 16 games for the Colts last season, a team that ranked as a top-10 defense.

This contract is double what Rhodes, 30, made last season with the Colts. Last season he signed a one-year, $3.75 million deal.

Per Spotrac, Rhodes has made $53.5 million throughout his career.

7 free-agent defenders who could assist Cowboys in secondary overhaul

The best remaining free agent defensive backs, according to ESPN.

The Cowboys made their most significant move of free agency on Saturday, inking former Atlanta Falcons safety Keanu Neal to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. The club has made other small strides towards improving their defensive backs. Following the club bringing back C.J. Goodwin, CB Jourdan Lewis was re-signed. Next week, the team will be visiting with Malik Hooker and Damontae Kazee, Neal’s former teammate in Atlanta.

ESPN released their 25 best available free agents and there are a number of well-known veterans at both the safety and cornerback positions who could upgrade the Dallas defense. Here are some potential candidates for the Cowboys to consider from ESPN’s best available rankings.

Jordan Poyer trying to recruit free agents Carlos Dunlap, Xavier Rhodes to Bills

Buffalo Bills S Jordan Poyer on DE Carlos Dunlap, CB Xavier Rhodes.

The NFL’s legal tampering period opened on Monday. That means teams can officially talk to and offer contracts to pending free agents from other teams now.

This doesn’t mean players couldn’t talk to each other prior to Monday, and Bills safety Jordan Poyer took advantage of that.

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show last week, Poyer said that he’s working out with a couple of free agents this offseason, defensive end Carlos Dunlap and cornerback Xavier Rhodes. He also admitted he has put on his recruitment hat while with them.

“There’s a bunch of guys I train with down there. Carlos Dunlap is down there and I was actually trying to recruit him down there last week,” Poyer said. “Xavier Rhodes is down there and been trying to talk in his ear a little bit. Guys are just trying to enjoy the offseason and the business side will handle the business side when that side comes.”

In terms of actual need, both players are intriguing options for the Bills to consider.

Dunlap, 32, is already a free agent. He was a Seahawks cap casualty last week and can sign with a new team at any time.

In 15 games with the Seahawks and Bengals last season, Dunlap had six sacks. Not a large number, but that still would have led the Bills. Pro Football Focus gave Dunlap a pass-rush grade of 62.3, as well. PFF did credit Dunlap with an impressive 13 QB pressures in the Seahawks’ final three games last season.

Pass rush is an area that Buffalo should focus on improving ahead of next season. As a team, the Bills only had 38 sacks last season.

Dunlap could be added as a rotational piece to Buffalo’s defensive line rotation and perhaps the salary cap space made via Mario Addison’s contract restructure last week would allow the Bills an ability to add him.

Rhodes, 30, signed a one-year deal with the Colts last offseason after spending seven years with the Vikings. Previously a top cornerback, Rhodes’ play dropped off with the Vikes. Still, the Bills have had a thing for adding veteran stopgaps at their No. 2 cornerback spot in recent seasons, such as Josh Norman.

In 2020, PFF graded Rhodes an impressive 76.3 overall mark, so he did bounce back. Overall, Rhodes had 42 total tackles, 12 passes defended, and two interceptions for the Colts last year.

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Spotrac predicts Colts splurge for WR Chris Godwin in free agency

Spotrac has the Colts going wild.

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The Indianapolis Colts have their quarterback of the near future in Carson Wentz and now must find ways to build around him in order to ensure his success under Frank Reich.

Part of that can come through free agency, where the Colts are projected to have roughly $43 million in salary-cap space after taking on Wentz’s contract. With extensions coming up, it will be hard to see an all-out assault on the market, but we’ve seen weirder things in the league.

Spotrac made their predictions for the majority of free agents set to hit the market. They had the Colts splurging on a massive contract for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, signing him to a five-year, $90 million contract.

The age, production, intangibles, and skillset are all extremely favorable for Godwin, which almost always means that someone overpays to pull him out of his current situation.

BEST GUESS: Indianapolis

As much fun as Godwin would be in Indy, it’s hard to see the Colts dishing out this big of a contract. Chris Ballard tends to not sign players during the first wave of free agency because of contracts like this one. As great of a talent as Godwin is, dishing out $18 million per year for a wide receiver might not be in the cards for Indy.

On top of the projected Godwin signing, the Colts added edge rusher Melvin Ingram to the exact same contract they signed Justin Houston to in 2019, coming out to two years for $24 million.

While the price may be right for the Chargers to keep him, Ingram should draw interest from legitimate contenders in 2021, with teams like Buffalo, Indy, & the Packers all in the mix.

BEST GUESS: Indianapolis

Signing two players with average combined salaries of $30 million would set the Colts back a bit, making it hard for them to extend their own—something that is much more likely to happen than a splurge in free agency.

Spotrac also predicted the Colts would re-sign cornerback Xavier Rhodes to a three-year deal worth $21 million.

He was one of the best values in the secondary for 2020, and a significant pay raise is coming. He’ll need depth and security around him to stay healthy and productive at this stage of his career.

BEST GUESS: Indianapolis

In a world where the Colts wouldn’t have any extensions to pay this offseason, this might not be as bold of a prediction. But it’s hard to see Ballard ponying up $37 million in cap space in 2021 on three players that aren’t their own.

Free agency can’t get here soon enough.

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4 Colts named to PFF’s top 101 players from 2020

Quartet of Colts get recognition from PFF.

The Indianapolis Colts will be focusing on improving the roster this offseason as they hope to stay in contention in the stacked AFC.

As Pro Football Focus reviews the 2020 season, they released their ranking of the top 101 players from the campaign. The Colts wound up having four players make the list in all.

First up is defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who leads the Colts at No. 28 overall. Here’s what they had to say about Buckner:

28. DI DEFOREST BUCKNER, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

The Colts were happy to trade a first-round draft pick to San Francisco and then hand DeForest Buckner a big contract based on the work he had done for the 49ers, so they must have been over the moon to see him then step up his game this season. Buckner’s overall PFF grade was 89.6 when he was finished, a significant jump over anything he had with the 49ers. He notched 57 total pressures and a PFF pass-rushing grade above 90.0 for the first time, and like most great players, his biggest impact was felt when the Colts were missing him from the lineup.

PFF 101 Rank, 2019: 82

Quickly following Buckner on the list was left guard Quenton Nelson, who came in at No. 34 overall.

34. G QUENTON NELSON, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Only a player as good as Quenton Nelson could rank this highly on the Top 101 and yet still come away with the feeling that it has been a disappointing season given where his career trajectory had been headed up until now. Nelson was still great, but he didn’t kick on to the otherworldly levels we were perhaps anticipating. Nelson allowed just 15 total pressures all season and put up a PFF run-blocking grade of 86.0, but that is four grading points lower than where he was in 2019. Nelson was still one of the best offensive linemen in the game, but we have already seen he has more in the tank.

PFF 101 Rank, 2019: 11

Then for a bit of a surprise on the list, Pro Football Focus is very high on tight end Mo Alie-Cox.

82. TE MO ALIE-COX, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Injuries opened the door for Mo Alie-Cox to have an expanded role in 2020. While he still only played 527 snaps, it was by far the most of his career and he showed a huge uptick in production. Alie-Cox saw 40 targets this season, more than three times his previous career high; 87.5% of the targets thrown his way were caught and he generated a passer rating for Philip Rivers of 106.9.

PFF 101 Rank, 2019: Unranked

Rounding out the list for the Colts is cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who enjoyed a strong bounce-back season.

95. CB XAVIER RHODES, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Xavier Rhodes looked absolutely cooked during his final games in Minnesota, but he showed this season what he could do when healthy. He slowed his pace a little over the season but allowed only 51.3% of passes thrown his way to be caught and had 10 pass breakups as well as two interceptions.

PFF 101 Rank, 2019: Unranked

The Colts have a solid roster that’s built from the inside out, and they will be hoping that a few more players make this list in 2021.

PFF names Xavier Rhodes as Colts’ most improved player

Xavier Rhodes will get rewarded for his bounce-back season.

The Indianapolis Colts knew they were taking a chance on veteran cornerback Xavier Rhodes when they signed him to a one-year deal during free agency in the 2020 offseason, but they were rewarded with a strong bounce-back campaign.

Pro Football Focus listed the most improved player for every team during the 2020 season, and it is no surprise that Rhodes was the name for the Colts.

The Colts’ decision to bring in Rhodes on a one-year, $3 million deal was just about as low risk as decisions come. Rhodes was coming off two straight down seasons in Minnesota, allowing an absurd 84.3% of the passes into his coverage to be completed in the previous year. However, in his first season in Indianapolis, Rhodes allowed just 50.7% of the passes thrown his way to be caught — improving his PFF grade from 46.4 to 76.3 in the process.

I wrote this past offseason that the Colts defense was the right environment for Rhodes to revive his career, and that’s exactly what the veteran cornerback did. Indianapolis would probably love to bring him back for another year as long as the price stays reasonable.

Rhodes was a bright spot in the cornerback room. With the up-and-down play of Rock Ya-Sin, it helped to have a stable option on the boundary to pair with the versatile Kenny Moore in the slot.

But now Rhodes is a free agent and the Colts have decisions to make. They can try to re-sign him, which will likely be expensive on the market. Or they can let him walk and try to find his replacement in free agency or the draft at a cheaper cost.

Regardless, Rhodes had a strong season thanks to the scheme of the Colts and being with Jonathan Gannon again. Now, he will be a free agent with several teams looking for cornerback help.

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1 pending free agent Chargers should target from each AFC South team

Chargers Wire goes through every NFL team and names one free agent Los Angeles should consider.

The Los Angeles Chargers are set to enter free agency with a healthy amount of salary cap space available

Even though the franchise has some in-house players that will need to get paid, there’s a great chance that general manager Tom Telesco and company will be aggressive in signing other pending free agents to bolster an already talented roster.

With that being said, we are going to list one pending free agent from each team in the NFL that could be a realistic target for L.A. Next up is the AFC South.