Cornerback Xavien Howard, who spent eight seasons with the Miami Dolphins, is expected to be a free agent this offseason, per a report from Peter Schrager of Fox Sports and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Howard will be “released at the start of the league year,” the Dolphins have informed him, according to Garafolo.
Howard is expected to garner “significant interest” in the free-agent market, according to Garafolo.
The #Dolphins have informed CB Xavien Howard he will be released at the start of the league year, sources tell me and @PSchrags. The four-time Pro Bowl selection is expected to have significant interest on the market.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 23, 2024
Howard’s five-year contract has three years left on it.
In 13 games during the previous season, the former All-Pro cornerback recorded 45 tackles, one interception, and twelve pass deflections. His left foot ailment caused his season to end prematurely.
After compiling 29 picks in eight seasons, including two seasons in which he led the NFL in interceptions, Howard is leaving Miami.
After the news surfaced, Howard’s agent, David Canter, posted on X:
@Iamxavienhoward makes every team in the national football league an instant contender. Lock down corners don’t hit the market often.
— David Canter (@davidcanter) February 23, 2024
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald revealed on Wednesday that Howard has not been asked to take a wage reduction or told of the Dolphins’ plans as of yet.
Despite the fact that Howard has been involved in a number of off-field events while playing for the Dolphins, including his arrest in 2019 on allegations of domestic abuse, it is most likely the contract structure that led to Howard’s termination. Howard’s cap number is about to soar, and his projected pay of $15.4 million in 2024 is not assured.
The Dolphins’ cap hit for 2023 was expected to increase to $26 million the following season, after costing them $10 million against the cap. That would have made Howard the fourth-biggest cap hit in Miami, surpassing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
The Dolphins will postpone making such cap changes until June 1. According to Over the Cap, if the club cut Howard before that date, they would have more than $23 million in dead cap and only $2.8 million in savings.
But by designating him as one of the two post-June 1 cuts, the Dolphins are able to save $18.5 million in salary space while still taking on a $7.4 million hit in 2024.
