2020 Miami Dolphins: Players who could get cut before week 1.
By Kevin Hood
Xavien Howard could be the Miami Dolphins biggest surprise this off-season.
Xavien Howard, CB
I can feel the hate coming my way as I type this. But 2019 Xavien Howard had a down year. Looking at PFF. Only being available for five games due to injury Howard allowed 66.7% of the targets thrown in his coverage to be completed. Allowing 16 receptions on 24 targets for 219 yards. That’s 13.7 yards per reception. Also allowing three touchdowns. A far contrast from his Pro-Bowl 2018 season. Twenty-nine receptions on 57 targets 50.9% for 469 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games.
If you were counting, that is only 17 games in two years. Howard has not played a full 16 game season since 2017. Coming off knee surgery in December of 2019, Howard’s durability is a concern.
Another reason Xavien Howard might be shown the door is a 2019 domestic violence charge from December that has since been dropped. No league punishment has been handed out, but just because the charges have been dropped doesn’t mean there will not be a suspension.
Also, the Miami Dolphins invested heavily in the corner position during the 2020 off-season. Bringing high priced free agent Byron Jones and spending a high draft pick on Noah Igbinoghene.
Looking at Over the Cap, cutting Howard would save the Dolphins only $25,000 with $13,300,000 in dead money.
Still, Howard is one of the best at his position when healthy and on the field. Pairing him with Jones would make an elite tandem.