The buzz around the NFL has quieted down as the second week of free agency nears its end. The lull in news gives fans the perfect opportunity to check in on some of their favorite franchise's former players, and that isn't an exception when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys faithful.
One former Cowboy who got paid handsomely this offseason is cornerback Charvarius Ward. The former Super Bowl-winning ballhawk inked a three-year, $54 million contract — including $35 million guaranteed — with the Indianapolis Colts on March 13.
Even though Ward's Cowboys run didn't last that long, the veteran CB's recent comments make it clear that he hasn't forgotten about America's Team... for all the wrong reasons.
Cowboys News: Colts CB Chavarius Ward Blasts Dallas Front Office
After going undrafted in 2018, Ward signed a three-year contract with the Cowboys to kickstart his NFL career. The former Middle Tennessee product's tenure only lasted four months, as Dallas traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for offensive guard Parker Ehinger before the regular season began.
Ward went on to win two Super Bowls while earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, prompting him to take a shot at the Cowboys during Tuesday's interview on the Colts' official podcast.
"In training camp and OTAs, I was strappin' them boys," Ward said, per NFL insider Ari Meirov. "I thought I was making the team, but Dallas don't make a lot of good decisions so they ended up trading me to Kansas City."
#Colts CB Charvarius Ward on being undrafted in 2018 and getting traded by the #Cowboys:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 19, 2025
"I was strappin' all them boys. I thought I was making the team, but Dallas don't make a lot of good decisions so they traded me." 💀
(via @Colts, h/t @Colts_Law)pic.twitter.com/5a6l3iJHmh
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who won the Cowboys-Chiefs trade nearly seven years later. Ward has become one of the most respected CBs in the NFL and has started in 89 of his 102 career appearances, whereas Ehinger didn't even play a single snap in Dallas.
It'd be one thing if the Cowboys kept defensive backs around who eventually outperformed Ward, but that wasn't the case.
Anthony Brown didn't develop into the shutdown force that fans hoped he'd become while a name like Kavon Frazier has been long forgotten. Dallas even chose to retain Tyree Robinson on the practice squad that season only for him to never play a regular-season snap.
As for Ward, the McComb, MS native has gone on to rack up 321 solo tackles, 70 defended passes, 10 interceptions, and three forced fumbles across the last seven seasons. Although his 56.2 Pro Football Focus defense grade only ranked 93rd among 116 eligible CBs last season, it's worth noting that it was only in 2023 when he held the fifth-best mark at his position (84.7).
While watching Ward thrive outside of Dallas isn't fun, the silver lining is the Cowboys have done a good job at developing cornerbacks since his departure. Trevon Diggs and Da'Ron Bland are among the NFL's top CBs when healthy, so, hopefully, the dynamic duo can spend more time on the gridiron than off it next season.