Miami Dolphins: Like It Or Not, Xavien Howard Deserves A New Contract

It seems from analysts and fans alike, everyone has an opinion on Miami Dolphins star cornerback, Xavien Howard’s contract dispute. After signing a five-year extension not too long ago, he’s looking for another new deal, within good reason.

Yes, Howard has only played 2 seasons under his current contract so it doesn’t seem like he’s in a position to demand a higher payday. Typically players will demand a new contract the closer it gets to their current one running out. For the most part, it’s usually in year four of a five-year deal. By then salary caps have adjusted and players in similar positions are getting paid more and since their contract is almost up, the demand for a better payday is justified.

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Howard’s situation is a little bit different though. His current contract doesn’t give him the value he deserves. Like it or not, he deserves a pay raise, it’s just a matter of how much.

When the Dolphins reworked Xavien Howard’s contract, he was paid off of his potential. He was coming off an injury and had some legal troubles, so the team rewarded him with a new contract but saw him as a risk and worked his deal accordingly. Fast forward those two years and here’s his situation.

Xavien Howard has outplayed the majority of the league as far as defensive backs go. He led the NFL in interceptions. Almost everyone had him in the discussion for defensive player of the year. It was next to impossible to throw to his side of the field and he was a cornerstone of the Dolphins defense. If a “lockdown” corner was a real thing, you could put his name in that discussion.

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To have that kind of production and not even be the best-paid corner on his team is probably frustrating. Now, everyone is all over television and message boards with “he should honor his contract and stop being greedy.” or “he needs to put the team first.”

To all those people, while it is professional sports, this is still his job. There’s not a single person on this earth who outperforms at their job and works their tails off who doesn’t think they deserve a raise. The Miami Dolphins are in a good position to have cap space next season to work out a deal for Howard, but that’s between his agent and the team.

Whether you’re mad he’s holding out at camp or not, Xavien Howard deserves to ask the team for a raise. Miami has to decide what message it wants to send about rewarding the guys who have shown up consistently on gameday. If it’s a matter of being the highest-paid CB in the league it might be tricky, but there’s no way he doesn’t hold the cards right now.