Key Takeaways:
– All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard is a free agent after being released by the Miami Dolphins.
– Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recommended that the Dallas Cowboys should consider signing Howard.
– Howard has dealt with multiple injuries, but was cleared for football activities in April.
– Despite his recent performance downturn, Howard’s addition to the Cowboys’ roster could potentially bolster their Super Bowl ambitions.
The Dallas Cowboys Urged to Sign Xavien Howard
The Dallas Cowboys have been encouraged to recruit the services of former Miami Dolphins’ defensive star, Xavien Howard. Having wrestled with a host of injuries during the 2023 NFL season, Howard, a two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl cornerback, is currently a free agent and is eyeing his next NFL team.
Searching for a New NFL Home
After his entire professional career with the Miami Dolphins, which started after being drafted in the second round of the 2016 draft, Howard found himself a free agent at the start of this year. The Dolphins chose to cut their ties with Howard, intending to register him as a post-June 1 cut-off, maximising their financial savings.
In his pursuit for a new team, Kristopher Knox of the Bleacher Report has hinted at the potential advantage of the Dallas Cowboys securing Howard. Knox noted that while the Cowboys did recruit Wake Forest cornerback Caelen Carson in the fifth round of the recent draft, the team could definitely benefit from additional depth at the cornerback position.
Knox noted, “The Dallas Cowboys could also consider bringing back 2023 trade acquisition Stephon Gilmore. However, the potential financial commitment to Gilmore potentially puts this option beyond the Cowboys’ reach”. Knox then suggested that the Cowboys could assess the potential value Howard could provide.
Rallying from Recent Injuries
Despite struggling with a foot injury throughout most of the 2023 season, Howard (now aged 30) was previously considered as one of the top pass defenders of the NFL. As per Tom Pelissero from NFL Network, Howard was declared fully ready for football activities in early April.
Howard’s performance did suffer a dip in the 2023 season, registering the lowest coverage grade of his career with a score of 51.9 according to PFF. In 2018 and 2020, he led the NFL in interceptions but managed just one interception for the last couple seasons. Potentially, this lack of form was due to his foot injury. If this was the reason, the Dallas Cowboys would be hoping for his return to previous levels if they decided to sign him.
Potential Value to the Dallas Cowboys
Signing up Howard could potentially bring more value to the Dallas Cowboys compared to banking on the relatively raw and untested fifth-round draftee Caelen Carson. The Cowboys had a relatively low-key off-season, and with Gilmore also on the market, Howard could be a perfect fit for the team.
Despite his recent health issues, Howard remains a credible starter. His recent suggestion that he’d accept a pay cut for the prospect of winning a Super Bowl, as mentioned on “The OGs Podcast,” could potentially pique the interest of the Cowboys’ management.
“If I have to choose between getting paid and winning a Super Bowl, some people accomplish both. I want to be different, but what I want the most now is to win a Super Bowl. I’ve already got paid, it’s the Super Bowl that I look forward to now,” Howard said.
Considering the fact that the Dallas Cowboys have made the playoffs every year for the last three seasons, adding Howard to the roster could increase their chances of becoming a Super Bowl-contending team.