Miami Dolphins extending Xavien Howard with CB record deal
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins are signing Xavien Howard to a big-time extension that will pay him more than any other CB in the NFL.
According to a report, the Miami Dolphins and Xavien Howard have agreed on a contract that will pay him $46 million in guaranteed money on a four-year extension that could be worth north of $76 million.
Dolphins are signing CB Xavien Howard to a record five-year, $76.5 million extension that includes $46M guaranteed, making him the highest paid CB in the NFL, sources tell ESPN. It’s the largest extension for a CB. Since becoming a 2nd-round pick, Howard has gone to one Pro Bowl.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 9, 2019
Indeed Xavien Howard has become one of the better corners in the NFL but is he the best? That might be a little bit more of a “homer” comment from Dolphins fans but he is surely up in the top five or six.
When at his best, Howard is a ball-hawking corner that can shutdown the best receivers in the NFL. The committment to Howard is a sign of what the Dolphins are doing with their rebuild. A cornerstone piece on defense, the Dolphins are locking the former 2nd round pick up long term.
The news of Howard’s extension comes a day before the teams rookie mini-camp is set to begin and a day that saw many of their rookies ink new contracts. More on those later today.
Focus now shifts to the offense where Laremy Tunsil will play 2019 and 2020 on his 5th year option that the Dolphins picked up. Miami has some time with Tunsil before they need to make a great offer but it is something they should consider doing early rather than later as contracts are notably higher the following year.
As for Howard, the contract will give the Dolphins five years with Howard but until the final contract details are released, we won’t know if the contract is front or back loaded and when the Dolphins will have an out.
It is very good move by the club to get Howard under contract this year and for the future. He should be even better in the system that Brian Flores is expected to employ where he will find himself in better positions to make plays.