Xavien Howard - Pro Football Rumors

Trade Notes: Harris, Texans, Geno, Browns

October 29th, 2020 at 5:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

After trading Yannick Ngakoue, the Vikings appear to be reopening the door to dealing their franchise player. Anthony Harris is again available, per Albert Breer of SI.com. The Vikings discussed at least one tag-and-trade deal involving the 2019 breakout player-turned-tag recipient this offseason but moved forward with Harris as a starter for the third season. The price was believed to be a Day 2 pick at that point. Harris has more than half of his $11.4MM tag salary due. Harris joins safety mate Harrison Smith, tight end Kyle Rudolph and left tackle Riley Reiff as available Viking veterans.

Here is more from the trade market, with five days to go until the deadline:

We have heard trade rumors surrounding the bulk of the Texans‘ receiving corps. The Packers, among others, inquired about Will Fuller; Randall Cobb and Brandin Cooks have also come up in talks. The Texans are prepared to part with any of their wideouts — for the right offer, of course. Every Texan except Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt, Laremy Tunsil and right tackle Tytus Howard is available, Breer adds. Fuller and Kenny Stills are on expiring contracts; Cobb is signed through 2022; Cooks through ’23.
NFL INT leader Xavien Howard has surfaced as a name to watch ahead of the deadline. While the Dolphins have fielded calls on the fifth-year cornerback, they have not received a firm offer, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes. The Dolphins also appear dead-set against dealing Howard, with Jackson adding that it would likely take multiple first-round picks (an unrealistic ask) for Miami to consider a deal. Howard is in the first season of a five-year, $75MM contract.
The Bengals traded all-time sack leader Carlos Dunlap to the Seahawks, and teams are wondering if the franchise’s No. 2 all-time sacker (Geno Atkins) is available. Teams have contacted the Bengals on the 11th-year defensive tackle but have been told he is not being traded, Breer notes. Atkins is signed through 2022, and although he has voiced frustration about his role, the Bengals will hang onto the perennial Pro Bowler.
In the thick of the AFC playoff race at 5-2, the Browns may still be dangling Olivier Vernon. Although the veteran defensive end came off Cleveland’s trade block this summer, the Browns shopped him for a while. They may be doing so again, with Breer indicating the 30-year-old edge rusher is being viewed as available. However, the Browns would move to replace the veteran opposite Myles Garrett. They were in on the first Nkagoue sweepstakes in August but lost out to the Vikings. In the final year of his contract, Vernon does not have a sack this season.
Entering their Week 8 game, the Panthers may be straddling the buyer-seller line at 3-4. However, they are still in a rebuilding phase in Matt Rhule‘s first season. Any buyer’s deal Carolina makes would be for a player controllable beyond this season rather than a rental who could help the team secure a wild-card spot, Joe Person of The Athletic writes (subscription required).
Prior to signing Mohamed Sanu as injury insurance this year, the 49ers finished second to the Patriots for Sanu at last year’s deadline. The 49ers offered the Falcons a third-round pick for Sanu, Breer notes, but the Pats gave up a second-round pick. San Francisco’s subsequent Emmanuel Sanders addition ended up being more impactful, and Sanu is currently training for his next opportunity.

Dolphins Receiving Trade Inquiries On Xavien Howard

October 27th, 2020 at 6:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Xavien Howard has intercepted a pass in four straight games, and those four picks are tied for the NFL lead. The veteran cornerback has rebounded from an injury-marred 2019.

Although the Dolphins are 3-3, they have received trade inquiries on their standout corner. At least two teams have called the Dolphins about Howard, Barry Jackson and Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald report. While Howard would not mind being traded, according to the Herald, the Dolphins made the interesting move of sending out a statement they are not shopping him (Twitter link via Jackson).

Multiple other media outlets indicated the Dolphins were, in fact, entertaining offers for Howard. Considering the Dolphins are still in a rebuilding phase, having just given Tua Tagovailoa the reins, listening to proposals would make sense. The current regime, however, did extend Howard in April 2019. His $15MM-per-year deal runs through 2024. However, no guaranteed money remains on the contract after 2020. The Dolphins would take only a $4.1MM cap hit by trading the 27-year-old defender, who is due base salaries of $12.1MM and $12.4MM in 2021 and ’22. His 2023 and ’24 prices dip below $12MM, increasing potential trade value.

The Dolphins gave Byron Jones a then-cornerback-record contract in March and drafted Noah Igbinoghene in the first round a month later. The team has not been shy on dealing key players, with Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick being shipped out last year. No first-round pick would likely come Miami’s way in a Howard swap, though.

Howard, who missed 11 games last season, led the NFL with seven interceptions in 2018 and already has 16 picks in his four-plus-season career. In that span, only Titans safety Kevin Byard has more INTs.

Dolphins Activate CB Xavien Howard

August 27th, 2020 at 6:30pm CST by Ben Levine

The next time the Dolphins take the field for practice, they’ll finally have Xavien Howard leading the defense. The team announced today that they’ve activated the cornerback off the reserve/COVID-19 and active/physically unable to perform lists.

This is a significant step for Howard, who was limited to only five games last year before suffering a knee injury. That ailment forced him to undergo surgery, but the 27-year-old had been rehabbing at the Dolphins’ facility since June. Howard was formally placed on the PUP late in July, and a recent COVID-19 test forced his placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Now, Howard will be looking to take another step forward following a 2018 campaign where he earned his first Pro Bowl nod. That season, the former second rounder compiled 35 tackles, 12 passes defended, and a league-high seven interceptions in only 12 games. Howard has been with the organization since 2016, appearing in 40 total games.

The Dolphins will be hoping that Howard will team up with free agent addition Byron Jones to form one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL. The team has a mixed bag of depth behind that duo, including Jamal Perry, Nate Brooks, and Nik Needham.

AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Newton, Bills

August 14th, 2020 at 2:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Dolphins for just 18 games, Minkah Fitzpatrick elaborated on the difference of opinion he had with his second NFL head coach. Brian Flores, per Fitzpatrick, preferred he play a hybrid strong safety/linebacker role and only tried him as a deep safety in one practice last summer. This only came after Fitzpatrick asked Flores to see more time in coverage, Tyler Dunne of Bleacher Report notes. After the Dolphins’ Week 1 blowout loss to the Ravens, in which Fitzpatrick was used more in coverage — albeit after limited practice time as a deep safety in Flores’ scheme — the 2018 first-round pick asked for a trade. Flores, Dunne adds, attempted to convince Fitzpatrick he was a key part of Miami’s future. That did not end up working. The Dolphins traded Fitzpatrick to the Steelers, with whom he became an All-Pro, for a first-round pick that turned into tackle Austin Jackson.

“We had a difference of opinion in my skill set and what he thought I could do and what I thought I could do,” Fitzpatrick said, via Dunne. “It was going to get tough for me to show something to somebody they were choosing not to see. They didn’t give me the opportunity to show it, even though I had film that showed it. The losing and all that stuff? If I was put in the right position and we’re losing — because of decisions people made upstairs — it is what it is. I can only control how I play. That didn’t affect me at all. It was just a fact that I was being used the wrong way.”

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

Shoulder and foot injuries helped lead Cam Newton out of Charlotte after nine seasons. But the former MVP quarterback said he is “full go” as he begins practices with the Patriots, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston notes. Newton, 31, sounded more cautiously optimistic about staying fully healthy, Perry writes, after being injured for much of the past three seasons. But going into the padded portion of New England’s training camp, Tom Brady‘s likely successor said he feels “amazing.”
Since Dolphins players reported to camp, Xavien Howard has landed on both the active/PUP list and the reserve/COVID-19 list. Howard underwent knee surgery in December. While Howard was running at the team’s facility this summer, per ESPN.com’s Cameron Wolfe, he does not figure to see much practice time before Week 1. This makes the standout corner’s availability for the Dolphins’ opener against the Patriots uncertain.
Another Dolphin uncertain for Week 1: Preston Williams. The Dolphins are easing their UDFA success story back into action after his ACL tear, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes, adding that Williams’ Week 1 status is in doubt. Williams went down in Week 8 last season, ending a strong start to his career. He caught 32 passes for 428 yards. With Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns opting out, Williams will be critical to Miami’s passing attack.
Formerly a key Bills wide receiver, Robert Foster now appears on the verge of being cut or traded. The third-year Bills wideout will need a strong camp to make the team, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic writes (subscription required). Buffalo drafted Gabriel Davis in Round 4, and the rookie will join the recently re-signed Isaiah McKenzie as a backup to the team’s Stefon Diggs–John Brown–Cole Beasley starter trio. After Foster averaged 20 yards per catch as a rookie — in a 27-reception, 541-yard, three-TD season — he caught just three passes in 13 games last season.

Xavien Howard Will Not Face Suspension

June 17th, 2020 at 4:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins have extensive resources devoted to the cornerback position, having added impact free agent Byron Jones and used a first-round pick on Noah Igbinoghene. The team will be able to pair those two with its top holdover corner throughout the season.

Xavien Howard, who saw a domestic battery charge dropped this offseason, will not be suspended, Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post reports. The five-year veteran defender was arrested in December for an alleged incident involving his fiancee.

In Howard and Jones, the Dolphins have two of the three highest-paid corners in the league. The former has spent his entire career in Miami. Howard has not played since last October. The Dolphins shelved him on IR in October after he sustained a knee injury. Howard, however, did not suffer a ligament tear.

Howard was a Pro Bowler in 2018, having led the NFL with seven interceptions. Months later, the Dolphins made him the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback with a five-year, $76.5MM extension.

Charges Against Dolphins’ Xavien Howard Dropped

February 6th, 2020 at 10:21am CST by Zachary Links

The domestic battery charge against Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard has been dropped, as ESPN.com’s Cameron Wolfe writes. Howard will not face jail time for the late December incident, but NFL discipline remains possible.

According to the police report, a verbal argument between Howard and his fiancee allegedly turned physical when he grabbed her arm and shoved her against a mirrored wall. Then, cops say, she fell on her right arm when Howard let her go.

On the heels of a Pro Bowl campaign, Howard inked a five-year, $76.5MM deal with the Dolphins last spring. After nabbing an NFL-high seven interceptions in just 12 games, Howard saw his 2019 season cut short by a knee injury.

Howard, at the very least, will not be facing legal consequences for the alleged event. Still, the NFL is expected to conduct a full investigation on the incident, which could lead to a suspension at the start of the 2020 season.

This year, Howard is slated to count for a $13.325MM charge against the Dolphins’ cap. His position-leading deal is set to run through 2024, his age-31 season.

Dolphins CB Xavien Howard Arrested For Domestic Violence

December 30th, 2019 at 9:03am CST by Rory Parks

Dolphins star corner Xavien Howard was arrested last night on charges of domestic battery, as Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). The alleged incident involved Howard’s fiance.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald obtained a copy of the police report, which states that Howard and his fiance had an argument about the fiance’s recent purchase of a purse, which she did not tell Howard about. The argument became physical, and Howard allegedly grabbed his fiance’s arm and shoved her against a mirrored glass wall in their bedroom. Howard then let her go, and she fell to the floor on her right arm (Twitter links).

Needless to say, Howard could be facing a significant suspension and fine from the league in addition to whatever criminal penalties he may be facing. Domestic violence is an especially sensitive subject in the NFL these days, and if the allegations are true, the Dolphins can expect to be without their top CB for a few games next season.

Howard signed a five-year, $76.5MM extension with Miami back in May, following a 2018 campaign that saw him notch a league-leading seven interceptions en route to his first Pro Bowl nod. He was one of the few high-level pieces that the rebuilding Dolphins chose to keep for the long haul, though he played just five games in 2019 before being placed on IR with a knee injury.

In a statement, the Dolphins said they are aware of the situation and are gathering information but have no comment at this time.

Dolphins To Place Xavien Howard On IR

October 29th, 2019 at 2:08pm CST by Zachary Links

There could be more big names changing teams today before the trade deadline. Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard won’t be one of them, however.

Howard is headed to injured reserve after suffering a knee injury on Monday night, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The good news: it’s not an ACL or MCL tear, but the Dolphins are choosing to exercise caution with the young star.

The Dolphins inked Howard to a five-year, $72.25MM extension in May, so they’re keeping their eyes on the prize. Of course, this year’s prize is the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. Beyond that, the Dolphins view Howard as a major franchise cornerstone.

In related news, the Dolphins have released tight end Nick O’Leary, hours after his ill-time drop led to a Monday night loss against the Steelers. His release leaves the ‘Fins with Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe as the team’s only TEs.

Before the injury, the Dolphins were receiving calls of trade interest on Howard. It’s anyone’s guess as to whether they would have considered moving him and, now, we may never now.

Trade Notes: Chargers, Gordon, Howard

October 28th, 2019 at 5:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Some league officials have linked the Lions and Bills to Chargers star running back Melvin Gordon (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler). Both clubs could be in the market for running back help and both would make ample sense for Gordon – if the Bolts are willing to lower their asking price a bit.

The Chargers haven’t been too keen on moving Gordon, despite the drama-filled offseason and holdout that ventured into the regular season. It’s possible that he could be pried loose for the right price, however, since he’ll be out-of-contract following the 2019 season.

Through four games played, Gordon hasn’t looked like his old self: he’s got just 2.5 yards per carry, plus two touchdowns (one rushing and one receiving). Last year, in 12 contests, Gordon averaged 5.1 yards per tote with 14 TDs in total.

Here’s more from around the NFL as we gear up for trade deadline day:

The Dolphins are getting calls about cornerback Xavien Howard, Albert Breer of The MMQB reports. Howard says he’s not seeking a trade, and the Dolphins would do well to keep the 26-year-old for future seasons, but that’s not keeping other clubs from inquiring. Thanks to the five-year extension he inked with Miami in the offseason, Howard is under contract through the 2024 season.
Interest in Broncos cornerback Chris Harris seems to have cooled a bit, due in part to the asking price, Troy Renck of Denver7 hears. The Eagles and Texans were among the clubs with serious interest, but the Eagles’ D has turned things around and the Texans seem to have already address their CB needs. Meanwhile, the Broncos are paper thin at cornerback, so Renck senses that they won’t consider moving him for less than a third-round choice. Harris, meanwhile, wants to finish out 2019 in Denver, where he and his wife are expecting their fourth child.
In case you missed it: The Redskins are now open to trading Trent Williams.

Dolphins’ Xavien Howard Not Seeking Trade

September 9th, 2019 at 8:15am CST by Zachary Links

After a brutal 59-10 pummeling at the hands of the Ravens, several Dolphins players have already requested trades. However, cornerback Xavien Howard is not one of the players looking to bail, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (on Twitter) hears.

Despite their rebuilding efforts, the Dolphins have told Howard that they value him. In turn, Howard has said he wants to stay, even though this figures to be a long season for a club that has traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil and jettisoned other key veterans.

This year, the Dolphins re-upped Howard on a five year, $75.25MM extension with $27.18MM fully guaranteed at signing and $46MM in total guarantees. That is to say – Howard might not win much with the Fins in 2019, but he’ll be paid handsomely.

Things won’t get much easier from here for the Dolphins. They’ve had success against the Patriots at home, but no one is anticipating an upset win in Miami on Sunday. After that, they’ll travel to Dallas to take on one of the league’s most dangerous offenses.