If Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard is looking for a little bit of extra ammunition for his contract dispute with the team this offseason, he’s just got a big boost from other NFL league executives. As a part of ESPN’s series dedicated to identifying the top-10 players at each respective position, Jeremy Fowler is interviewing and polling 50 NFL executives to name their best of the best at each spot.
Today’s release comes at cornerback — and Howard checked in at No. 3 overall. Howard is, of course, currently holding out from the team after skipping mandatory mini-camp, opening himself to nearly 6 figures in fines in a statement meant to identify just how serious Howard is about renegotiating his contract with the Dolphins. And with comments like these, it would seem as though plenty of high level decision makers around the league see Howard’s play as among the cream of the crop.
“‘He likes to put hands on people. My kind of corner,’ an AFC coordinator said.
“Howard has the press-man ability and ball production that every team covets. The All-Pro produced a league-high 20 pass deflections, using his size (6-1, 198 pounds) to fluster top receivers. He is versatile enough to jam a wideout or play Cover-2 when the defense switches things up.”
“‘Instincts. Plays a lot closer on you than most, and if people test him and force him, he knows how to get his head around and finish the catch,’ an NFC personnel evaluator said. ‘He breaks so well that he cuts the route.’” — Ryan Fowler, ESPN
Of course, the Dolphins love Howard as well. Head coach Brian Flores, even amid the holdout, had praise for the standout cornerback and was emphatic with communicating that the Dolphins want him in South Florida. Howard has four years remaining on his current contract, which should keep the NFL’s third-best corner (according to executives) in Miami in 2021 and beyond — unless Howard is willing to sit out games to prove a point and the Dolphins find a suitor willing to make a trade worth their while.