The Indianapolis Colts have strengthened their secondary by signing Charvarius Ward to a three-year, $54 million contract in free agency. Ward, who earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2023, went undrafted in 2018 but has built a solid career, winning a Super Bowl and establishing himself as a reliable, at times outstanding, cornerback.
Ward first gained recognition as a rising star in the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense during the early years of Patrick Mahomes’ tenure. However, his NFL journey actually began with the Dallas Cowboys, who signed him as an undrafted free agent for training camp in 2018. Despite his strong performance, Dallas traded him away—a move Ward hasn’t forgotten.
Speaking on the Colts’ team podcast, Ward reflected on his first training camp experience and shared his belief that he had earned a roster spot in Dallas, only to be dealt to Kansas City. He also took a jab at the Cowboys’ decision-making.
“As an undrafted free agent, you don’t get many chances,” Ward said. “Back with the Cowboys, I signed with them for training camp, and in OTAs, I was locking guys up… I really thought I’d make the team, but Dallas doesn’t always make the best decisions, so they ended up trading me to Kansas City.”
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That’s a blunt statement—but there may be some truth to it, considering the Cowboys’ recent struggles to perform at the level Jerry Jones expects.
In the end, the trade worked out well for Ward. He thrived in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, won a Super Bowl, and secured two lucrative contracts in free agency. Meanwhile, the Cowboys reached the playoffs four times during that span but failed to advance beyond the divisional round.
Between Ward’s remarks and DeMarcus Lawrence’s recent comments— which sparked a strong reaction from Micah Parsons— it’s clear that former Dallas players have no hesitation in criticizing their old team.
