The Miami Dolphins’ ongoing standoff with cornerback Xavien Howard is something to monitor as the team ramps up for the upcoming season. The Dolphins are looking to build upon a 10-win season in 2020 and Howard himself is specifically looking to build upon a 10 interception campaign. But he’s still hopeful that he’ll be able to do so with a revised contract, be it by the Dolphins or someone else.
Howard’s public trade request at the start of camp is still very much lingering, but the request has lost some of its sting as Howard has continued to attend Dolphins practices (while nursing an ankle injury) and has alluded to he will do what is needed to avoid fines.
But Howard does have one thing going for him: the rest of the corners in attendance at camp have done little to provide relief to the Dolphins’ organization that they have the depth and/or talent needed to replace Howard if they’re committed to playing hardball. And so, with Miami holding contractual leverage and Howard holding the leverage of talent, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that Miami, perhaps in an abundance of caution, hosted a handful of cornerbacks for tryouts on Thursday.
The report comes from Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald:
Dolphins watching situation at CB closely. Brought in 4 CBs for tryouts Thursday: Lafayette Pitts, Trevor Williams, Alexander Myers, KJ Sails.
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) August 6, 2021
Cause for panic? Not yet. But this is certainly something to keep an eye on given just how much depth the Dolphins have collected at the cornerback position coming into this year’s camp. The depth of the room is considered one of the strengths of the team — but when the top-level piece is out of commission, as Howard has been this week, things look out of sort. And none of the candidates here will fix that if Howard doesn’t suit up for the Dolphins this year.
But if someone is going to have to play a bigger role than anticipated, Miami may be ready for alternative options. Just in case.