Miami Dolphins to sign Jordan Howard: Grade, reaction and more
By John Buhler
The Miami Dolphins plan to sign former Philadelphia Eagles running back Jordan Howard to a two-year contract worth more than $10 million in his free agency.
The Miami Dolphins could not run the football for the life of them last year after trading running back Kenyan Drake to the Arizona Cardinals. It was so bad that journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick led the team in rushing. Though Miami is expected to draft a ball carrier this spring, the Dolphins made well by signing Jordan Howard away from the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Howard plans to sign a two-year deal north of $10 million with the Dolphins in his impending free agency. Howard spent his first three NFL seasons with the team that drafted him out of Indiana University in the Chicago Bears before spending the 2019 campaign with the Eagles.
Though not much of a pass-catcher out of the backfield, Howard has proven to be more than an effective runner when he’s healthy. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in his first two seasons with the Bears, nearly hitting that mark in his last year with them in 2018. In 10 games last year with the Eagles, he still had 525 rushing yards and six trips to pay dirt. Miami would welcome this.
Here are the contract details, the national reaction and a grade for Howard going to the Dolphins.
Contract Details
Per Schefter, it will be a two-year deal worth at least $10 million for Howard to go to the Dolphins.
Usually, it’s a recipe for disaster to pay a running back on a second contract, but this is a cheap, team-friendly deal that will also allow Howard to dip into free agency again in 2022 entering his age-27 season. He can be a huge boost to the Dolphins’ ground game that desperately needs it.
National Reaction
Dolphins and former Eagles' RB Jordan Howard reached agreement on a two-year deal worth north of $10 million, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2020
The #Dolphins are closing in on a deal for #Eagles RB Jordan Howard, source said. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry last year and flashed when healthy.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2020
Per @RapSheet RB Jordan Howard is joining the Dolphins
— PFF (@PFF) March 17, 2020
Howard: 69.0 PFF grade (31st) pic.twitter.com/SYxx3Kw5pD
Dolphins closing in on deal for RB Jordan Howard. (via @RapSheet)
— NFL (@NFL) March 17, 2020
(by @SNICKERS) pic.twitter.com/jfjKChmY5a
A reminder: the Dolphins leading rusher last season was Ryan Fitzpatrick with 243 yards.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 17, 2020
This is a massive opportunity for Jordan Howard. https://t.co/NazrhjSJoT
Overall, the national reaction of Howard going to the Dolphins is a positive one. He is the first running back off the board in this free agency cycle. Though it’s not a lot of money, Howard will get plenty of opportunities to carry the ball down in Miami these next two years for head coach Brian Flores. Keep in mind that Fitzpatrick led the 2019 with 243 rushing yards. Howard fixes this.
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Ultimately, Howard may not be suited to be the Dolphins’ long-term No. 1 option at tailback. If Miami can draft a promising prospect to pair with him in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, the Dolphins offense might become more complete than it was a season ago.
The offensive line still isn’t great, but adding Howard helps Miami going forward and hurts the Eagles for sure.