Report: All-Pro CB Xavien Howard gets restructured deal, will remain a Dolphin after requesting trade
After requesting a trade amid a contract dispute, Xavien Howard will remain a Miami Dolphin.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that the Dolphins agreed to restructure the All-Pro cornerback's contract to keep him in Miami. He was approaching the second year of a five-year deal with $39.2 million in guarantees when he made the request. Per NFL Network's Albert Breer, Howard's amended deal includes various new incentives and bonuses with additional guaranteed money in 2022.
Dolphins and CB Xavien Howard’s amended contract includes …
• $1M All-Pro/Pro Bowl incentive for ‘21.
• $2.5M in play-time incentives in ‘21.
• $600K in workout/per-game roster bonuses for ‘22 converted to base salary.
• $6.775M of ‘22 money fully guaranteed.— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 8, 2021
Howard, 28, is coming off an All-Pro season where he led the NFL with 10 interceptions. Dolphins head coach Brian Flores told reporters last week that he did not want to trade Howard.
"We don't want to trade X. You can write that down," Flores said, via the NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. "He's a very good player. He's a big part of the team. We don't want to trade him."
The Dolphins are coming off a 10-6 season that marked a five-game improvement over the previous season and building around second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with Flores in his third year on the job. They have hope for their first playoff trip since 2016, and Howard's a key part of their defense.
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