Xavien Howard has been on the market since he was released by the Dolphins in February. The veteran corner was linked to a new Miami deal for a time, but it has long been known a reunion is not in the cards. 
Howard – a Houston native – expressed interest in a Texans contract not long after free agency began. That did not produce a deal or even known negotiations taking place on that front, however. In early May, the 31-year-old received medical clearance but that has not led to a market developing (including, most recently, a lack of interest from the Colts).
Howard was named in a civil suit stemming from allegations he recorded and distributed photos and videos of sexual acts involving women without their consent, along with the claim he texted sexually explicit material to the son of a woman he impregnated after she refused to have an abortion. No criminal action has been taken in Howard’s case, and it remains to be seen if any league investigation (coupled with a potential personal conduct suspension) will emerge. That helps explain why the four-time Pro Bowler remains unsigned, but it is his intention to continue his career in 2024.
As Outkick’s Armando Salguero writes, Howard “will play” this season, suggesting a contract could be worked out at some point during the campaign. The salaries in veteran contracts become guaranteed in full just before Week 1, so it would come as a surprise if any team were to pursue a signing in the immediate future. Still, a number of suitors could show interest especially if faced with injuries in the secondary. Salguero names the Texans, Broncos and Vikings as teams which could be feasible destinations based on familiarity between Howard and those teams’ respective defensive coordinators.
The Baylor product has spent his entire eight-year career with the Dolphins to date, starting all but one of his combined 102 regular and postseason appearances. Howard led the league in interceptions in 2018 and again in 2020, but over each of the past two years he was limited to only a single pick. Concerns over limited production, along with his legal situation, could leave Howard in free agency well into the season. Any possibility of taking time away from the game has not received consideration, though.
Doubt it, he is a criminal but that won’t matter. He lost a step which will to teams.
I’m available, too, and even though I don’t have any pending lawsuits or investigations, I will be happy to take the league minimum.
Not with a ten foot pole.
Wish he could go to the Rams now!!
If he could still play he’d have a contract. The NFL doesn’t care about legal troubles. They’ll pretend it matters, but if you can play you’ll get a contract. If you can’t then you won’t. Way too many examples to name here, but Rashee Rice is a prime example.