NFL Network’s Mike Silver breaks down the latest on Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard
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By: Josh Houtz
With less than two weeks to go before the start of the Miami Dolphins 2021 training camp, the situation with All-Pro Cornerback Xavien Howard is still nowhere close to being resolved.
Howard continues to post cryptic messages on social media, reminding the Dolphins and their fanbase that they should be careful what they wish for (IMO). Because losing an all-world talent like X will be much harder to overcome than some might think.
The latest from NFL Network’s Mike Silver would suggest that the Dolphins and their fanbase should probably start looking at what life might be like beyond Xavien Howard. Silver mentions several teams monitoring the situation and what trade compensation might look like if Howard were to be traded.
Here’s what Mike Silver said on Twitter regarding Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard.
MINI-THREAD: 1) Excited about my new @WashingtonNFL contributor gig; since I still work for @nflnetwork, some journalism: There’s a lot of trade chatter concerning Dolphins All-Pro CB Xavien Howard, who led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 2020 & is unhappy with his contract…
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) July 14, 2021
3) There are several teams, all in win-now mode, pondering such a move. If no one steps up to meet Miami’s price, Howard (who skipped the offseason program) could try to force the issue by holding out of training camp. He could be fined $50,000 a day in that scenario. Stay tuned.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) July 14, 2021
Now, I’m not sure there’s a whole lot of new stuff here. After all, we all knew that this thing would get uglier the longer it went on. At least that’s how it appeared when head coach Brian Flores said (but didn’t say) that he was going to draw a line in the sand. That, to me, would indicate that the team isn’t in a rush to pay Howard.
Silver went on to mention that teams in ‘win-now’ mode are monitoring the situation. Which, again, isn’t exactly ground-breaking. After all, what team would be ready to mortgage a future first-round pick and the cap space necessary to land Howard, unless that team has playoff—and even Super Bowl aspirations?
For me, hearing that the asking price begins at a first-round pick is music to my ears. And probably my favorite takeaway from all of this. Because if the Dolphins have to move on from Xavien Howard, it’s going to be much easier to do so if the compensation is closer to what they received for Laremy Tunsil—as opposed to what they got in exchange for a talent like Jarvis Landry. (I understand they may only get a first-round pick, but who knows, maybe Bill O’Brien will get another job!)
Xavien Howard is an All-Pro talent. The Dolphins would be better off reworking his contract if the relationship can be repaired.
Do you think the Miami Dolphins will trade cornerback Xavien Howard? What teams could use a shutdown corner like Howard? What would the perfect trade compensation be for Xavien Howard? Let us know in the comments section below!
