This has been a bad offseason for defensive backs. Widely considered to be one of the more important parts of a defense, teams have been releasing veteran cornerbacks and safeties like there’s no tomorrow. The Miami Dolphins designated cornerback Xavien Howard as a post-June 1st cut, setting him up to become a free agent at the start of the 2024 league year.
There was a time when Xavien Howard was one of the best cornerbacks in football. During the 2020 season, the former second-round pick earned First-Team All-Pro honors following an incredible season where he recorded 10 interceptions, 20 passes defended, one forced fumble, and an elite 87.3 PFF grade. However, the former second-round pick has been in a steady decline since then, and the Dolphins decided it was in their best interest to save $18.5 million by making Xavien Howard a free agent.
Despite this rough ending, some reports indicate that the Dolphins are still interested in signing free agent Xavien Howard, just at a reduced rate. However, that feeling is not mutual, as the former All-Pro made it clear that he does not plan on coming back to the Miami Dolphins.
“That door is closed,” Howard said on WQAM.
Free Agent Xavien Howard Will Not Return to Miami Dolphins
Xavien Howard isn’t the player he once was, but the four-time Pro Bowler will have some interest on the free agent market. Despite the abundance of released players, there still aren’t enough good cornerbacks to go around, especially in today’s pass-heavy NFL.
Now entering his age-31 season, it’s safe to say that Howard is no longer a lockdown cornerback capable of tracking an opponent’s top receiver for an entire game. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t be a reliable second or third cornerback for a contender.
Best Team Fits
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders had arguably the worst secondary in the league last year, and it’s going to get worse with Kamren Curl presumably departing in free agency. This team needs reliable playmakers to solidify their secondary, and they need to bring in a veteran leader to help mentor 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes. Xavien Howard can fill both roles, and the free agent won’t inhibit Washington’s ability to add talent to the rest of the roster. After all, the team has a staggering $96 million in cap space, so they should be able to add Howard and a few big-name pass rushers.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are going to trade L’Jarius Sneed, opening up a big hole on their defense. Sneed was one of the better boundary cornerbacks in the league last year, and players like him are vital to sustained success when you share a division with Davante Adams, Courtland Sutton, and Mike Williams. The present-day version of Xavien Howard isn’t as good as Sneed, but the free agent should be a valuable addition to one of the better defenses in the game.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best all-around rosters in the game with no real weaknesses at any position. However, while their cornerback depth chart isn’t an active liability, there is some room for improvement here. The 49ers have little to no cap space, so there is a chance they won’t be able to afford Xavien Howard as a free agent. However, if the oversaturated market lowers his price, then this is as good a fit as any.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions would’ve made it to the Super Bowl if they had a cornerback capable of catching a ball that hit him in the facemask. Alas, Detroit’s lack of cornerback talent came back to bite them, as they spent February 11th watching the big game from the couch. Even in his current state, Xavien Howard would still be one of the better cornerbacks on this depth chart, and the free agent could be the missing piece to put this team in the Super Bowl. The offense is in place, now the Lions just need to build a championship-caliber defense.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers have an elite young quarterback in Justin Herbert yet still found a way to be a .500 team since he entered the league. This is because, since 2020, the team ranks 24th in EPA/play allowed. This isn’t going to fly under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, as the old-school coach is going to add players capable of making a difference in the secondary. Just like the 49ers, the Chargers are strapped for cash and might need to release a few veterans if they want to sign a free agent like Xavien Howard.
Main Photo: Sam Navarro – USA Today Sports
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