The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with former Minnesota Vikings All-Pro cornerback Xavier Rhodes, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Former #Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes is signing a 1-year deal with the #Colts, per @SunnyTheAgent. A chance to prove it in Indy.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2020
Rhodes started in all 15 of his appearances with the Vikings last season, but he fell out of favor with head coach Mike Zimmer, who eventually resorted to Trae Waynes as the team's top cover corner. Pro Football Focus ranked Rhodes 123rd among all corners last season, although he was named to the Pro Bowl.
Former #Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes is signing a 1-year deal with the #Colts, per @SunnyTheAgent. A chance to prove it in Indy.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 26, 2020
However, this pairing always seemed like a possibility. The Colts recently released Pierre Desir, and they needed added pedigree at the cornerback spot. General manager Chris Ballard has also been looking to add playmakers, which he showed by trading for former San Francisco 49ers star defensive tackle, DeForest Buckner.
Rhodes is not long removed from being arguably the best corner in football. He made All-Pro First Team in 2017, and it seemed he was the anchor of an imposing Minnesota secondary.
While that did not turn out to be the case, Rhodes has a chance to rewrite the script in Indy.
The Colts are going for it as they hope to contend for a Super Bowl title in 2020. Indianapolis now has Pro Bowlers at every level in Buckner, Rhodes, and star linebacker Darius Leonard.
Moreover, Ballard signed veteran quarterback Philip Rivers to a one-year deal, with Rivers now getting the opportunity to throw behind one of the best offensive lines in football.
This feels like a low-risk, high-reward move for Ballard and the Colts, and it could pay major dividends if Rhodes can recover some of his old form.
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