Similar to Nelson, the Texans and Colts are worth considering as potential destinations for Howard. The same is true for the Minnesota Vikings, whose defensive coordinator is former Miami head coach Brian Flores. Last season, Howard averaged 6.8 yards per target and scored one touchdown on 62 targets.
The Vikings have selected cornerbacks in the top half of the last two drafts.
Howard suffered a foot injury that cost him four games during the regular season. While 2023 was a low year for Howard, he had Pro Bowl honours in each of the previous three seasons and four times overall in his eight-year NFL career.
Howard signed a five-year contract worth $90 million with Miami in April 2022, but will most likely negotiate a much smaller contract elsewhere this offseason. Minnesota needs more help in the secondary, as proven by their recent draft picks.
The Vikings selected cornerback Mekhi Blackmon from USC in the third round of the 2023 draft (their second overall pick), followed by Khyree Jackson from Oregon in the fourth round this year (third overall pick).
After having no picks in the second and third rounds, the Vikings utilized their first pick on Day 3 to address their need for physical corners who can play man coverage,” the Star Tribune reported on Saturday. “Jackson is a 6-foot-4 cornerback who ran a 4.5-second [40-yard sprint] and has demonstrated a willingness to challenge receivers. … Last season, he recorded three interceptions and seven pass breakups for the Ducks, as well as two sacks and five tackles for loss.”
Xavien Howard might replicate the value Vikings got from CB. Patrick Peterson
Blackmon appeared in 15 games during his first season, starting only three. Byron Murphy Jr. and Akayleb Evans, Minnesota’s regular starters in 2023, were evaluated by Pro Football Focus as the 87th and 99th best cornerbacks in the NFL last year, respectively, out of 127 players who saw enough snaps to qualify. According to PFF, Blackmon ranked 32nd, despite playing less snaps and presumably softer matchups than Murphy or Evans.
Murphy is under contract for just one more season, while Evans, a fourth-round pick in 2022, has two years left on his contract. Minnesota also signed veteran CB Shaq Griffin on a one-year contract this summer.
Howard, who will be 31 when he plays in 2024, is unlikely to be the Vikings’ long-term option. However, if Minnesota signs him, his career path could be similar to that of former Vikings CB Patrick Peterson.
Peterson, an eight-time Pro Bowler, moved to Minneapolis in 2021 as a 31-year-old veteran. He had two productive seasons with the Vikings on a low-cost contract. His play/pay contributed value to the defence, as Peterson started 30 games and recorded 20 pass breakups and 6 interceptions throughout that time.
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