The Saints have been linked to free agent cornerback Richard Sherman throughout this offseason, but Sherman’s recent legal troubles have probably severed that link, at least for the time being. Still, New Orleans would probably like another quality corner to line up opposite Marshon Lattimore, and GM Mickey Loomis could have his eye on one of the best DBs in the league.
According to Jeff Duncan of The Athletic (via Twitter), the Saints will be heavily involved in the bidding for Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard should Miami make Howard available via trade. Howard has four years remaining on his current contract, so the Dolphins are understandably reluctant to rework it, but Howard is said to be dug in on his desire for a new deal. If player and team cannot find some common ground, Howard could be on the move, despite the blow that would deal to Miami’s hopes of contention in 2021.
Though the five-year, $75MM pact Howard signed with the ‘Fins in 2019 made him the highest-paid corner in the league at the time, his $15MM AAV is now the sixth-highest mark in football. And on the heels of a terrific 2020 season in which he led the league with 10 interceptions and graded out as the second-best CB in the NFL per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, Howard is trying to strike while the iron is hot.
Howard is attached to a $12MM salary for 2021, so the Saints, who have about $10MM of cap space, would need to carve out some room to accommodate a Howard acquisition (unless Miami kicks in some cash). But financial constraints never seem to be much of an issue for Loomis, who, along with vice president of football administration Khai Harley, continues to manipulate the cap in new and creative ways.
Obviously, Howard’s desire for a market-topping contract wouldn’t change if he ends up in New Orleans, so Loomis would also need to be prepared to pony up a $20MM/year deal in addition to premium draft capital. Such a maneuver could lead to a Lattimore departure in 2022, but at least for one season, the Saints would boast perhaps the top CB duo in football.
Although the Dolphins still have leverage over Howard given the amount of time left on his contract and the hefty fines that the CBA imposes for training camp holdouts, veteran NFL reporter Michael Silver says trade chatter is swirling around the 28-year-old (Twitter link). Silver adds that Howard is unlikely to get the new deal he wants from Miami, and that there are several teams in win-now mode that are considering a trade. He does not specifically name the Saints as one such club, though New Orleans does profile as a win-now outfit.
With training camp fast approaching, there should be more clarity on Howard’s future fairly soon.
The cap hit is why the Saints released a quality veteran starter in Jenkins. If they wanted to spend the rest of their cap space on a veteran defensive back, why did they bother doing any of that? Jenkins wouldn’t have put them in cap difficulties for the next four years or however many years the new deal will end up being. Howard would make the team better of course, but the move strategically does not make much sense to me.
I mean the Fins would still be on the hook for all of his bonus money (in terms of the cap). So that could net the Saints some savings in a trade
The ‘Phins would be, if Howard plays on his old deal. All indications now seem to suggest that he will not.
With all the moves the Saints had to make to get their horrible cap situation under control they now want to trade for a guy who will want to be the highest paid CB in the league?
I agree 100% with your statement. I would rather see them allocate to Lattimore extension and draft Stingley if he comes out
Also, Howard has been injury prone over the years with the exception of last year…
I’m usually on the player’s side in terms of maximizing their pay during their earning window, but not here. Dude just signed an extension. Throw him a bone and up his guarantees or restructure his deal to covert salary to an upfront bonus, but tearing up the contract snd treating him like a FA just continues to set a worse precedent around the league.
He’s not grossly underpaid by any stretch and he JUST signed an extension that still has 4 years on it! If he wants to sit I say let him sit.
Think this has more to do with that he took a discount when he signed, and then they turned around and paid someone inferior at his job more money than him in the very next off-season. He literally could have gotten Ramsey money when his deal came up last time.
Actually, at the time the contract was signed (May 2019), Howard was the highest paid cornerback in the league.
He was also hurt for much of 2019, playing in only 5 games.
I’m not a ‘Phins fan, but thats not how I remember it playing out or how it looks on paper. They made him the hist paid CB in the league. Whether he thought he was worth more than that is kind of irrelevant if they weren’t willing to pay it.
As for them turning around and signing Jones to a bigger deal? That’s the business. No one ever stays at #1 for long in term of contracts.
If he was PURELY upset at the Dolphins for breaching trust and not upset about his contract he wouldn’t be demanding a trade AND a new deal. It’d be an either or.
Not sure Saints are willing to give up two future 1st rounders plus whatever else fina might want.
Fins**
Better save that 1st round pick. Because of 2-3 post ago, it says Hill is beating out Winston for QB1. They’re gonna be in the QB market next offseason. Watson, Wilson, & Rodgers will all be on the market.
I start cancer in the locker room
This team even with super stars like Michael Thomas never showed as much self centered team destroying greed as this jacka$$
Then the Saints don’t need him. They’ve, players and coaching staff, have done a good job over the years of keeping the drama to a minimum, comparatively speaking…
The Saints in win now?? Not with those 2 scrub QB’s. That is funny if they think they can win anything with those 2. Plus isn’t it about time Jameis does something knuckleheaded.
As a Fins fan I hope the Saints blow all their picks on a trade. Don’t get me wrong, when X is healthy he is a stud CB who should be respected. He had a hell of a 2020 season as well, but the fact he is crying over a new contract after 1 year is pathetic and sets a horrible standard in the NFL. I’m sure his new agent is looking a lot of $$$ for himself as well if a trade happens and a new contract is written. Bad business.. To bad the Fins just can’t sit him.. Oh well