Xavien Howard is back in the NFL, signing a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts worth up to $5 million, his agent announced. The move comes after the former All-Pro corner spent the 2024 season away from football.
Howard, 32, spent eight seasons with the Miami Dolphins and cemented himself as one of the league’s premier ballhawks, including leading the NFL with 29 interceptions in 2017. He’ll now try to re-establish that playmaking ability in Indianapolis, where his immediate task is to carve out a role in the Colts’ secondary.
His 2023 campaign in Miami was plagued by injuries, limiting him to 13 games, and he was released by the Dolphins. He had expressed interest in a return with the Texans earlier in the year, but a deal never materialized. An in-season visit with the Cincinnati Bengals helped keep him on teams’ radars, and it’s notable because Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo previously coached Howard with the Dolphins and then led Cincinnati’s defense before moving to Indianapolis this past year.
The Colts are banking on a depth upgrade in their secondary, adding Howard to a corner group that already includes Charvarius Ward, Kenny Moore, Jaylon Jones, Julius Brents and rookie Justin Walley. Walley’s injury history, including an ACL tear suffered during the preseason, has underscored the need for reliable depth behind Ward and Moore.
Howard’s path with the Colts will hinge on staying healthy and showing he can still play at a high level. If he can contribute meaningful snaps and produce some takeaways, the one-year deal could set him up for a stronger free-agent market next spring and give Indianapolis a flexible option to build around in 2025.
Outlook: The signing gives the Colts a low-risk, potentially high-reward addition to a secondary that already features veteran presence and young talent. If Howard regains form and stays on the field, he could provide valuable depth and help bolster Indianapolis’ pass defense as they look to improve after a busy offseason.
Summary: Xavien Howard’s one-year, up-to-$5 million pact with the Colts aims to restore his prime-playmaking ability in a defense led by a familiar coordinator. The move adds depth and upside to a young, injury-prone group, with the potential to pay off if he can stay healthy and productive in 2025. Positive sign for Colts if he recaptures some of his past elite-level play.