Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard is clearly looking to find some hidden gems among the low-cost free agents he is signing in the 2026 offseason, and that includes defensive lineman Derrick Nnadi. Nnadi's arrival could mean good things for cornerback Charvarius Ward, though, as Ward has been contemplating retirement.
Speaking with the media for the first time after he signed this week, Nandi was clearly overjoyed by reuniting with his former Kansas City Chiefs teammate. The players played for KC from 2018 through 2021.
Interestingly, Nnadi was taken in the third round in 2018, while the more successful Ward went undrafted. Not that that matters to Indy fans. As long as both play well in 2026, life is good.
Indianapolis Colts signing Derrick Nnadi might be good for Charvarius Ward
Nnadi told the media when asked about playing with Ward again, "My dawg, Mooney! That’s really, that’s my dude. Man, I can’t wait to see him."
Let's hope that turns true. Ward is under contract through 2027 and has a cap hit of more than $20 million in each of the next two seasons, but he also suffered three concussions during the 2025 season. After the second, he was open about potentially not returning to football. His long-term health at times outweighed the money he would make playing the sport.
Unfortunately, soon after returning, Ward had yet another concussion and missed the rest of the season. His father has told the cornerback that he would like him to retire, and soon after the season ended, Ward was reportedly thinking of calling it a career.
Ballard has said he understands Ward is ready for the 2026 season, so the expectation is the one-time Second-Team All-Pro will continue to lock one side of the field down for the Colts. Perhaps, Indianapolis adding Derrick Nnadi, who obviously got along with Ward in Kansas City, will help him confirm he wants to return.
For the Indianapolis Colts, hopefully, two things will happen. The most important one is that, assuming Charvarius Ward returns, the cornerback plays at a high level while never suffering another brain injury. One would like to think Ward will be able to live a long and healthy life after his career ends.
The second part is that Nnadi plays better than he has for most of his career. He misses far too many tackles for an interior lineman (he missed 14.3 percent in 2025, for instance), doesn't get quarterback pressure, and isn't good against the run. One might rightfully wonder if Chris Ballard signed him just to make Mooney Ward happy.