Can Xavien Howard play a full 16-game season?
Howard has been an absolute ballhawk on the field for the Dolphins — when he’s been on the field. And, unfortunately for Miami, that hasn’t been often enough as of late. The former Baylor defender has missed 15 of his last 20 possible contests and continues to battle with ongoing knee issues that have been a problem since his rookie season. Howard cashed in a massive contract last summer after leading the NFL in interceptions despite missing the final 4 games of the 2018 season; but Miami structured that contract in such a way that moving on wouldn’t be financially devastating — Miami could trade Howard next spring and save nearly $7M on the salary cap.
This isn’t to say Howard shouldn’t be considered a long-term fixture for the team. But if knee injuries continue to force him off the field, Miami may deem their depth at the position to allow them to go in a more economical direction. Let’s hope Howard stays healthy this season and removes any doubt.