The Miami Dolphins and star cornerback Xavien Howard have agreed to a contract extension. After months of flirtation and some goodwill on the part of Howard — he was a full participant in the team’s first set of offseason workouts last month despite not having a new deal — the two sides have finally come to a much-anticipated agreement.
The deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, is a monster. Howard will be under contract for five more seasons in Miami and he can earn as much as $76.5 million with $46 million guaranteed. There are still some fine details to comb through, but this is the kind of contract that will reset the market for all cornerbacks getting paid in future seasons.
For Howard, the deal is well deserved. Howard, a former second-round pick by the team in 2016, has become one of the better ballhawks in all of football. His 11 interceptions over the last two seasons are tied for the second most in the NFL over that timeframe, trailing only Titans safety Kevin Byard – and Howard missed the final four games of 2018 with a knee injury.
This is a promising change of pace for the Dolphins, who openly stated upon the change atop their regime that they hoped to begin rewarding their young talent with new deals as a part of the new normal in Miami.
They’re off to a good start.
