Swift changes have begun to sweep through the Miami Dolphins ahead of the 2024 free agency period. Now, prized veteran cornerback Xavien Howard is on his way out as the franchise plans to part ways with the perennial Pro Bowl defender.
Why Miami Is Releasing Xavien Howard
The news was first reported by NFL Network insiders Mike Garafolo and Peter Schrager on Friday.
This is the second salary cap-related move for the Dolphins today, as they released defensive lineman Emmanual Ogbah as well.
Howard signed a five-year, $90 million contract extension before the 2022 campaign. That deal came after his last Pro Bowl season.
The 31-year-old cornerback, though, was due to earn $15.4 million in base salary for the 2024 season. Considering that Miami is still in the red for salary cap ($24 million over the cap as of Friday), cutting players with high-priced contracts became inevitable.
PFN Dolphins insider Adam Beasley wrote that Howard could be on the move back on Feb. 19, even detailing how new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver left out Howard’s name among the list of Miami defenders he was excited to coach up in ’24.
“So don’t be surprised at all if the Dolphins either try to trade Howard or make him a post-June 1 cut in the coming weeks,” Beasley wrote. “Such a move would certainly free up cap space. But it would also create a hole at cornerback.”
Xavien Howard’s Contract: How Much Salary Cap Space Will the Dolphins Save?
The Dolphins will likely make Howard a post-June 1 release, enabling the club to spread his dead money over the next two seasons.
Miami will take on $7.406 million in Howard’s dead money in 2024. His cap charge would have been $24.906 million had he remained on the roster, so the Dolphins will realize $18.5 million in cap savings for the upcoming season.
The rest of Howard’s dead money — a combination of prorated signing and roster bonus cash — will accelerate onto Miami’s books in 2025. The Dolphins will have to account for nearly $16 million in dead money next year.
If Miami doesn’t use a post-June 1 designation on Howard, it will absorb more than $23 million in dead money by releasing the veteran cornerback — a scenario the cap-strapped Dolphins cannot handle.
Howard With Miami Over the Years
Howard played all eight of his NFL seasons as a Dolphin, earning four Pro Bowl nods.
He went on to snatch 29 career interceptions and break up 95 total passes, which included producing a league-high 20 in 2020 during his last All-Pro run. That was also the season that saw him collect a league-high 10 picks.
In the last two seasons, Howard only managed to snatch a combined two interceptions. His total tackles also never surpassed 45 in 2022 and 2023.
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Howard, though, still formed a respected CB tandem alongside fellow Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey, who was added via trade in March 2023 from the Los Angeles Rams. Ramsey ended up leading the ‘Phins with three picks.
Howard will likely command significant attention in the upcoming free agent market for teams seeking cornerback help.
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