Tag: Xavien Howard trade

The Dolphins had trade discussions with the Ravens for Xavien Howard

It sounds like the price was too much for Baltimore.

The Miami Dolphins made no moves at the trade deadline, but they apparently had discussions about moving on from arguably their best player.

On Sunday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Dolphins had trade negotiations with the Ravens that would’ve sent cornerback Xavien Howard to Baltimore.

Baltimore had a slew of injuries to important players at the beginning of the season, including Marcus Peters who tore his ACL the week before their first game. Howard would’ve been able to fill that void for the rest of the year, and then they could’ve moved him in the offseason.

According to Rapoport, the deal never got done because the Dolphins’ asking price was too high for Baltimore (at least a first-round pick), and the Ravens would have asked the Dolphins to take on some of Howard’s remaining salary.

For those reasons, a trade never materialized.

The Dolphins now get to keep one of their top players and work on a new deal with him this offseason after Howard and the team agreed to revisit his contract prior to the 2022 season.

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ESPN lists a Xavien Howard trade as a potential deadline move

What would the All-Pro get in return?

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With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, and the Miami Dolphins struggling early in the season, many are beginning to question who could possibly be moved or acquired in the coming weeks.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote a column on Thursday listing some possible trade scenarios around the league, and he came up with one transaction that could make some sense for the Dolphins going forward.

In this suggested trade for Miami, the Dolphins would be dealing cornerback Xavien Howard and a 2022 second-round pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick.

The instant reaction to this trade will probably be negative for most people, as Howard is their best player despite his play dropping this year. However, this trade is more understandable if it’s viewed as a big-picture move.

Miami and Howard had to re-work his contract for the 2021 season to get the cornerback on the field this year, and both sides agreed to re-visit the deal next offseason. If Howard continues to play like this, the Dolphins won’t want to give him more money, but he’ll likely still ask for it after having an All-Pro season in 2020.

So, if they can’t come to an agreement, the Dolphins are right back in the same predicament they were prior to the start of the year.

Trading Howard would also mean essentially punting on the year. It wouldn’t be too crazy to think this season is over in terms of playoff hopes. As Barnwell mentions, the ESPN Football Power Index gives them just a 2.4% chance of making the postseason.

Miami gains another first-round pick which replaces their original pick that belongs to Philadelphia. They can use the extra draft capital to address some of their more pressing issues like the offensive line or even quarterback if they feel compelled.

Again, this trade will probably be received negatively by Dolphins fans, and those who do so probably wouldn’t be wrong, but if the team isn’t going to contend in the near future, it’s one that makes some sense.

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4 potential trade deadline moves for the Cardinals

With the trade deadline approaching, the Cardinals could be in the mix for some high-profile players.

The NFL trade deadline is upon us — a time where struggling teams ship off pricy veterans and contending teams look to find that missing piece for a championship run.

The Arizona Cardinals have already made a trade, acquiring OLB Markus Golden from the New York Giants. Golden’s return to the valley has been welcomed with open arms by the fanbase. His presence should bolster a Cardinal defense that is already seventh in the NFL in sacks.

The Cardinals, however, may not be done acquiring talent. Our own Chuck Harris reported the Cardinals may be looking into a big name trade prior to the deadline.

I don’t have the Cardinals giving up their first-round pick in any of these trades given their circumstances of each player, as well as their evident need for cheap talent next year.

So, what players make sense for the Cardinals to bolster their playoff hopes?