Chris Grier and the Miami Dolphins didn’t waste any time getting star cornerback Xavien Howard extended on a long-term contract. And while there may be some apprehension about the health of Howard’s knee and if his play needed another “prove it” year before giving him such an extensive contract, the NFL’s economics are already proving that the Dolphins made the right move in getting Howard’s deal done sooner rather than later.
Why?
Because when Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey showed up in Duval for Jaguars training camp yesterday, he did so in the back of an armored truck — his latest public display of displeasure that the Jaguars are going to force him to play out another year of his rookie contract. Ramsey — rightfully, we might add — wants to get paid.
How exactly does that impact the Dolphins? Because if Howard doesn’t get a contract extension this offseason and balls out again in 2019, his market value and contract value are going to rise. And if the Jaguars were able to beat the Dolphins to the punch and get Ramsey extended first? Look out.
So while the Dolphins incur some minor risk with Howard’s knee issues, he’s played 28 of a possible 32 contests over the last two years — and Miami got him locked in before Ramsey campaigns himself into an absolute monster of a contract – a contract that would’ve undoubtedly cost the Dolphins more against the cap, too, had they waited to get Howard on the books.
