Fourth in a series looking at players who could be targeted by the Broncos when free agent negotiating window opens March 15.
After a career year with the Vikings in 2017 that saw Xavier Rhodes earn first-team All-Pro honors, the cornerback’s play deteriorated over the next couple seasons in Minnesota.
Rhodes got consistently torched to the tune of an 81.5% completion percentage in 2019, and he was released last March. After signing a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Colts, Rhodes allowed a completion percentage of 51.9%, an enormous improvement from 2019 and the second-lowest mark of his career behind 2017.
So the Colts are sold on Rhodes. Now, it’s just a matter of money. Spotrac projects the corner could command a two-year, $14.7 million deal, though Rhodes will likely demand more depending on the cornerback market.
“Xavier had a heck of a year,” Colts GM Chris Ballard told reporters at the end of the year. “He worked and bought into everything we’re doing. We’ll wait and see how it works out here in free agency, but we like Xavier.”
Rhodes started all 16 games for the Colts last year, with two interceptions in one game (one of which was a pick-six) and 12 passes defensed.
A free agent again, Rhodes is an intriguing candidate for the Broncos, who already released A.J. Bouye this offseason. As Michael Ojemudia and Essang Bassey continue to improve in their second seasons, Rhodes could be the veteran addition the Denver cornerback corps needs. And, new general manager George Paton is certainly familiar with Rhodes from his time as the Vikings’ vice president of player personnel/assistant general manager.
Rhodes File
Experience: Rhodes was the Vikings’ first-round pick (No. 25 overall) out of Florida State in 2013. As a rookie he saw action in 13 games, starting six, before becoming a full-time starter in his second season.
Rhodes started all but five games for the Vikings from 2014-19, emerging as one of the best cornerbacks in the league during the front end of that time frame. In his career he has 12 interceptions and two touchdowns, and has recorded at least one pick in six seasons.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Rhodes was the Colts’ best cover corner last year.
Case For: The Bouye trade didn’t pan out, as his season was marred by injuries (shoulder, concussion) as well as a season-ending suspension for performance enhancing drugs. With Bryce Callahan as the most experienced returner at cornerback, Denver could use another veteran presence to lead the unit’s promising younger players (Ojemudia, Bassey, another cornerback via the 2021 draft). Rhodes’ play in 2020 could mean his dips in 2018 and 2019 were an aberration.
Case Against: Or, those dips could be a sign Rhodes is far from the All-Pro cornerback he once was, and the Broncos are unlikely to sign a player who matches the strong performance he showed with the Colts. Rhodes will be 31 when the season begins, and an aging corner might not be the best answer when the Broncos have a No. 9 pick they could use on a dynamic rookie at that position instead.
Tape Analysis (Colts vs. Bengals, Week 6 2020): In a win over Cincinnati, Rhodes had a season-high three pass break-ups. Rhodes demonstrated impressive closing speed in one pass break-up as he streaked across the field with Mike Thomas in coverage. Later in the game, he had good timing closing on a route to break up Joe Burrow’s third-down pass for A.J. Green. In the third quarter, Rhodes came up and stuck his helmet in on a draw play, showing he can still play the run. In the fourth quarter, Rhodes shut down Green again with physical coverage on a deep in-breaking route.
Final Take: Rhodes may still have something left in the tank and could very well be a key defensive component if he ends up in Denver. But the cost may not justify that, especially if Denver is having to compete with offers from other teams willing to go in the range of a $10 million annual salary.
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