The Miami Dolphins have signed cornerback Xavien Howard to a five-year extension that will make him the NFL's highest paid cornerback.
According to a league source, Howard, who had been pushing for an extension all offseason, received a five-year extension that will pay him $76.5 million. The deal features $46 million in guaranteed money, and makes him the team's highest paid player.
Howard's deal exceeds the $75 million contract Josh Norman got from Washington back in 2016. That deal only featured $36.5 million in fully guaranteed money, but that was the highest amount of fully guaranteed salary an NFL team paid a cornerback before Howard. Norman did receive a total guarantee of $50 million when injury was factored in.
How much of Howard's $46 million in guaranteed money is fully guaranteed wasn't clarified, but he'll average more than $15 million a season for the first three seasons of the deal.
Howard, who has 11 interceptions and 25 pass breakups in 28 games the past two seasons, made his first Pro Bowl last season despite missing the season's final four games because of a knee injury.
The Dolphins view Howard, a former Baylor standout the team selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, as a cornerstone piece they intend to build the new hybrid defense around. Last season Howard was used to shadow every opponent's best receiver. Despite doing so he contributed 35 tackles, 12 pass deflections, and was tied for the league lead with seven interceptions.
The Dolphins are hopeful that the 25-year-old will continue to improve, which could turn him into the best cornerback the franchise has had since Brent Grimes.
The cornerback market was slow during 2019 free agency, but Washington gave strong safety Landon Collins a six-year contract worth $84 million, with $44.5 million in guarantees and $26 million guaranteed at signing. That deal helped set the framework for what Howard received from Miami to avoid getting hit with the franchise tag next offseason.
Getting a deal done with Howard was viewed as the franchise's top priority this offseason, and now that it's done Miami can turn its attention to continuing to strength the 2019 roster.
The Dolphins signed offensive tackle Jordan Mills, who started every game for the Buffalo Bills in 2015-18, to a one-year, worth $3 million on Thursday, and it's possible that the Dolphins could pass a few more veterans to the roster before training camp begins late July.
With Howard locked up cornerback seems to be less of a need because Miami has Bobby McCain, who has primarily served as the Dolphins nickel cornerback the past four years, Eric Rowe, a free agent addition, Cordrea Tankersley, who is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last November, and Torry McTyer competing for playing time. Miami could also use Minkah Fitzpatrick, the team's 2018 first-round pick, at cornerback much like they did last season.
The Dolphins plan to run a hybrid scheme that utilizes both a 3-4 and 4-3 front, and want a roster full of interchangeable players who can fill many roles. Howard certainly fits that mold.
