The Miami Dolphins will part ways with one of the team’s best players of the past decade. According to NFL Network, the team is expected to release former All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard in the coming weeks.
With the Dolphins in near-dire salary cap straits, the team will be forced to make more hard choices this offseason. The release of Howard comes after an up-and-down year for the veteran corner, as Miami’s secondary saw mixed results under the watchful eye of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Howard’s boundary corner compatriot, superstar CB Jalen Ramsey, didn’t mince words in his reaction to Howard’s release, and it looks like he has some thoughts about Fangio’s role in the 2023 season as well.
Jalen Ramsey Appears Frustrated With Vic Fangio’s 2023 Coaching Decisions
“I won’t ever forgive dude for not utilizing our full skillset!” Ramsey wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in a farewell tweet featuring a picture of him and Howard. The “dude” Ramsey is referring to appears to be Fangio, who was Miami’s DC during the 2023 season and has since departed for the same role with the Philadelphia Eagles.
In his post, Ramsey also proclaimed Howard to be the “GREATEST corner in
Miami Dolphins History.”
Ramsey was stellar in his first year sporting aqua and orange, but reports bubbled to the surface throughout last season that Fangio didn’t mesh well with Miami’s players on defense, especially the veterans.
Ramsey hinted multiple times to reporters that he wanted the opportunity to shadow opposing teams’ No. 1 receivers, especially when Howard was out with injury.
But Fangio stuck to his guns — instead choosing to frequently keep his CBs to their designated sides of the field. The results were frustrating to the team and fans alike, as backup corners like Eli Apple and Kader Kohou struggled against top-caliber wideouts all season long.
With Fangio off to Philly and Howard soon to be wearing a new uniform, it will be up to Ramsey and new Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to coach up Miami’s next batch of defensive back talents.
Atop the list to replace Howard on the boundary is Cam Smith, Miami’s second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Smith was a highly touted prospect coming out of South Carolina, but he failed to earn Fangio’s trust and played just 20 defensive snaps on the season despite the team’s rash of injuries (another source of fan frustration).
KEEP READING: Miami Dolphins Inform CB Xavien Howard He’ll Be Released
With Weaver at the controls and Miami now needing someone to step up, Smith should get the first crack at proving he can be Ramsey’s next partner at the position.
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