Chris Grier speaking with Xavien Howard on new deal, expects him to be a Dolphin in 2022
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told local reporters Wednesday he has had “multiple talks” with Xavien Howard on restructuring the cornerback’s contract with the expectation he is with the team for the 2022 season.
“We’re going to have conversations and see if we can come to some sort of resolution,” Grier said at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “My anticipation is that Xavien will be here next year.”
Grier, speaking to reporters for the first time since the day after the trade deadline on Nov. 3, 2021, said he’s following through on a promise made to Howard, 28, and his agent last summer after initially tweaking his deal amid a trade request from Howard’s side.
“Play through the season, get us to the third year of the deal and then we’ll look at it, talk about it,” Grier said. “Just to be truthful with him and do it, that’s the right thing to do. If he wants to come back and play on the deal, we would, but we know that’s not the case.”
The Dolphins last summer added more incentives in 2021 to Howard’s extension, which was originally signed in 2019 and runs through the 2024 season. The team also added more guaranteed money in 2022 to the deal. Howard has the second-largest cap hit for 2022 on the Dolphins ($16,358,222), only behind teammate Byron Jones, but his average salary ranks seventh among cornerbacks, just behind Jones. During the season, Howard typically declined to comment on his contract status and standing with the team.
Howard, a Pro Bowl selection this past season, struggled in the first half of the season with injuries and play he acknowledged wasn’t up to his standard but he was one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks in the second half. He made a number of game-changing plays, notably his forced fumble that preserved a Week 1 win over the New England Patriots and a forced fumble which he returned for a touchdown in the team’s Week 10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
Howard’s five interceptions led the Dolphins and his two forced fumbles ranked second.
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 5:58 PM.
