On the surface, the Xavien Howard contract is an absolute monster. The Miami Dolphins agreed on a 5-year extension with Howard, worth a maximum of $76M — a deal that was finalized today when Howard signed on the dotted line. There are some record setting numbers on the surface of this deal, but upon closer inspection it’s clear that both Howard and the Dolphins will emerge as winners.
As bloated as the initial numbers for any NFL contract are, the truly defining numbers are the total guaranteed money and the distribution of that guaranteed cash. Looking closely at Xavien Howard’s contract reveals that this extension is — in all practicality — a 3-year extension instead of a 5-year one. How?
Because the Dolphins are on the hook for large sums of guaranteed money at the front end of the contract, the team would only incur a $2.8M cap penalty if they decided to part ways with Howard after the 2021 season — the halfway point of this extension. Of course, no one hopes that things come to that and that Howard and the Dolphins will enjoy a long, fruitful marriage together. But in the event that Howard’s play stumbles or his past knee issues arise again and become too much for him to overcome, the Dolphins are protected from sunken cost and being on the hook for years to come.
Mark this down as a win for Xavien Howard — but also a win for the Miami Dolphins. These are the best kind of wins, the kind where everyone goes home happy.
