Xavien Howard named Dolphins’ best value draft pick in last 16 years

PFF picked one draft pick from each team.

The last 16 years have brought mixed results for the Miami Dolphins.

Since the start of the 2006 season, the Dolphins have a record of 114-143 (.443) and have made the postseason just twice. However, during that time, they’ve had some players who have proved to be among the best in the league at their positions.

Pro Football Focus’ Michael Renner recently put together a list of each team’s best value selection since they started analyzing the NFL in 2006. For the Dolphins, the pick was cornerback Xavien Howard, who was a second-round selection in 2016.

Here’s what Renner wrote about Howard and the other options:

“Olivier Vernon and Jarvis Landry are in the conversation here, but Howard’s peak has lasted a little longer. His 27 interceptions since entering the league in 2016 are two more than the next closest NFL defender.”

By using the term “value” the conversation almost has to be about players taken after the first round. For a player selected in the first 32 picks to be a “value” pick, they would have to be a certified future Hall of Famer early in their career.

Howard, having made All-Pro teams twice and Pro Bowl rosters three times, is a pretty easy choice. In a few years, if Jevon Holland continues on the same trajectory of his rookie campaign, he could be fighting Howard for the top spot.

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