An All-Pro CB and Brian Flores Connection Is on the Market
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings saw major improvements on the defensive side of the ball under new defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, in 2023.
A big reason for this improvement came from strong play out of Minnesota’s secondary, including the emergence of Josh Metellus as a “jack of all trades” safety. However, the Vikings could still use some additional help at the cornerback spot.
The trio of Mekhi Blackmon, Akayleb Evans, and Byron Murphy played well enough, but none of the three truly emerged as a lockdown player on the boundary. Luckily, a new All-Pro CB who could fill that role is now headed to the free agent market, and he happens to have past playing experience under Brian Flores.
An All-Pro CB and Brian Flores Connection on the Market
That player is Xavien Howard, who is being released by the Miami Dolphins ahead of the start of the new league year.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network tweeted the news on Friday, writing, “The #Dolphins have informed CB Xavien Howard he will be released at the start of the league year, sources tell me and @PSchrags. The four-time Pro Bowl selection is expected to have significant interest on the market.”
Howard, a second round pick in 2016, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Dolphins, and Flores was his head coach for three of those seasons from 2019 through 2021.
Howard made his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2018 before Flores took over as the Dolphins head coach, but unfortunately, a knee injury derailed his 2019 campaign. He was limited to just five games during the year.
The cornerback bounced back in fabulous fashion during 2020, though. Howard started all 16 games for the Dolphins that year, and he put together league-leading numbers in both passes defended (20) and interceptions (10).
For his efforts, he was named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career and finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting. It was the first time that a player recorded 10+ interceptions in a single season since Antonio Cromartie intercepted 10 passes during the 2007 season for the San Diego Chargers.
Howard followed up that fantastic 2020 season by making the Pro Bowl in each of the 2021 and 2022 seasons again, but injuries plagued the 30-year-old cornerback once again during the 2023 season. He played through groin and hip injuries throughout the year before a foot injury knocked him out of the lineup in Week 18 and the Wild Card round against the Kansas City Chiefs.
In total, Howard appeared in 13 games and recorded 45 tackles, a tackle for loss, 12 passes defended, and an interception during 2023.
The cornerback will turn 31 years old in July, and the injuries from last season could be a concern. Still, if the Vikings want a veteran player with loads of experience (and success) as a boundary cornerback at the NFL level, Howard could be a strong option on the open market in March.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.