Dolphins: Xavien Howard thrilled with new contract loaded with incentives
Xavien Howard did all he could do to force their hand, and the Miami Dolphins have given him a reworked contract that should make him happier.
Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard outperformed his contract last season. He recently went all the way to requesting a trade to convey his unhappiness with his deal, and now he has gotten what he wanted.
According to multiple reports, the Dolphins have restructured Howard’s contract.
The #Dolphins have agreed to restructure CB Xavien Howard’s contract, source says. The situation has been resolved. He’s staying in Miami.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 8, 2021
It’s believed to be the first time in NFL history a player with four years left on his deal has received added money and guarantees.
New deal includes up to 3.5M in incentives in 2021 and fully guaranteed 2021 salary, source says. Also includes 2022 salary fully guaranteed for injury and becomes fully guaranteed on Day 1 of new league year. $6.775M in fully guaranteed 2022 salary due at signing, source says. https://t.co/bSWVqThkQT
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 8, 2021
Howard is getting his 2021 salary fully guaranteed with $3.5 million in incentives. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, with a $1 million Pro Bowl incentive, he can now earn a maximum of close to $16.3 million in 2021.
Xavien Howard contract details
According to Rapoport, Howard’s full $12.975 million salary is now guaranteed for injury and will become fully guaranteed on the first day of the 2022 league year. $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses and $100,000 in workout bonuses are being moved to base salary and guaranteed.
Rapoport added $6.775 million of that 2022 salary is guaranteed at signing. The Dolphins have also assured Howard they’ll renegotiate a new market value deal next February or March based on his health and 2021 performance. Hopefully he got that last part in writing, or that assurance is as good as the paper it’s not written on.
More for Xavien Howard: Now, $6.775 million of his 2022 salary is fully guaranteed at signing. Plus, he got assurances they will renegotiate a new deal in late February/ early March in line with market based on health and 2021 performance. https://t.co/Luz54lyGdK
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 8, 2021
Xavien Howard got what he wanted from the Dolphins, at least for now
Howard practiced at Dolphins’ camp for the first time on Saturday, perhaps not coincidentally on the assumption negotiations on a reworked contract were in the final stages, as he had been dealing with an ankle injury. The severity of that injury was easy to question, as he surely showed up to camp only to avoid being fined (the Dolphins can’t rescind fines for missed camp days). They did rescind the fines he got for missing mandatory minicamp.
Howard is coming off his best season in 2020, as he led the league in interceptions (10) and pass breakups (20). He also tied for the league lead in interceptions in 2018 with seven. Another season along those lines will set him up to get his deal reworked again early next offseason. But the Dolphins have assured that their best cornerback will be happily in the fold this season.
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