On Tuesday night, All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard released a public statement requesting a trade away from the Miami Dolphins franchise.
With reports indicating displeasure with his current contract for quite some time now, analysts from around the league have had the opportunity to speculate about Howard’s next landing spot. But now that a trade is almost certainly imminent, landing spot predictions are really starting to fly.
According to ESPN NFL insider Matt Miller, Howard’s best fit is with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Xavien Howard is a top 5 cornerback in the NFL and wants a trade.
Dolphins might want him out of the AFC, but my god he would be amazing in Kansas City and they badly need him.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) July 28, 2021
The Chiefs’ secondary is no doubt one of the weakest groups on the team.
While rookie corner L’Jarius Sneed impressed in his debut season with three interceptions through three starts, his play alongside fellow starter Charvarius Ward wasn’t enough to keep opposing teams worried in the passing game. Finishing 12th in the league in pass defense, the Kansas City secondary allowed 231.8 yards per game through the air.
A big point of contention between Howard and the Dolphins organization was the fact that his average salary netted less than his fellow cornerback teammate Byron Jones’.
This certainly wouldn’t be a problem with the Chiefs though. Ward is currently on a one-year free-agent contract tender worth $3.384 million and Sneed is entering the second year of his four-year $3.9 million rookie deal.
After leading the NFL in interceptions (10) and passes defended (20) through the 2020 season, Howard is unhappy with his current five-year, $75.25 contract with the Dolphins — making him just the sixth highest-paid corner in the league.
With some money to spend on the defensive end, the Chiefs could put together a deal attractive enough to land the All-Pro corner who clearly wants more.
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