The news broke yesterday that the Dolphins have agreed to terms on a contract extension with cornerback Xavien Howard. Howard signed a record setting deal worth $76.5M over five years — $46M of that guaranteed. There has already been some backlash on the signing by fans — both fans of the team and casual fans of the sport. Some Dolphins fans go as far as to believe the Dolphins should complete their perceived “tank” by trading Howard to haul more draft picks. But while there is some logical thought to wanting to move players for draft picks and not paying them big money, signing Howard to an extension was the right move. Since taking over the starting job in his second season, Howard has recorded 11 interceptions and one touchdown. In 2018, he finished the season tied for the most interceptions with seven. Damontae Kazee (Atlanta) and Kyle Fuller (Chicago) each also logged seven interceptions — although they each did so in 16 games. Howard did it in 12. Before being shutdown for the season, Howard was on pace for nine interceptions for the 2018 season. Since recording his first interception in the 2017 season, no corner in the NFL has recorded more. Every week, the former Baylor Bear is expected to cover the best receiver on opposing offenses. Multiple times in his career, Howard has made plays when the Dolphins needed him most. Against the Colts in the 2018 season, Howard recorded two interceptions to end the Colts drives before the half and keep the game within reach. Xavien Howard may not be a household name to the casual fan just yet, but he has developed enough and provides enough game changing plays to be plenty worth his contract extension.<doc-sep>DAVIE, Fla. -- Tanking speculation buzzed around the Miami Dolphins this offseason, but on the ninth day of May, general manager Chris Grier sent an emphatic message about the direction of his team: The Dolphins are signing cornerback Xavien Howard to a five-year, $76.5 million extension, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Word is already spreading through Miami's locker room that the new-era Dolphins' way is to take care of their own. In other words: Ball out, handle your job the right way and you will get paid. The Dolphins are building toward something, and signing the team's best player and defensive cornerstone to a record-setting, long-term deal is a strong step for the franchise. It's not clear whether the Dolphins' rebuild will work, but securing Howard, 25, is a great move. Yes, it is a great move because of the message it sends. Yes, it is a great move because of how Howard has produced over his three NFL seasons. But most importantly, it is a great move because of Howard's potential. Howard's seven interceptions in 12 games last season tied for most in the NFL and most by a Dolphins player since Patrick Surtain in 2003. He has 11 interceptions over his past 17 games. He's not just a ball hawk, either. He has developed into a black hole for most receivers, and he dominates in man coverage. The Dolphins are signing cornerback Xavien Howard to a five-year, $76.5 million extension that includes $46 million guaranteed. AJ Mast/AP Photo One of his coaches, Tony Oden, believes Howard has just scratched the ceiling of his potential. Howard entered stardom in 2018, but the thought of him at the next level should have Dolphins fans salivating. Howard is on the brink of being the undisputed best cornerback in the NFL, earning Revis Island-type respect. A higher salary, of course, creates higher expectations. Consistency in production, leadership and health will be expected of Howard going forward. Miami traded up in the second round of the 2016 draft to select Howard No. 38 overall with thoughts of him being a key piece of its defense for a long time. He overachieved. And now Miami needs a few more Howards to get this franchise back to glory. NFL teams tend to assume the personality, work ethic and mentality of their highest-paid players. You would be hard-pressed to find a man in Miami's locker room who would question making Howard the team's highest-paid player. He is the perfect player for the Dolphins to build around because he defines everything that first-year coach Brian Flores and Grier want in their players. He's a hard-working, humble, reserved, playmaking star who has overcome a heavy load of adversity to reach this moment. To fully understand the adversity element, you must get to know Howard and his story. 2019 NFL OFFSEASON COVERAGE Catch up on the draft: • Pick-by-pick analysis » • Kiper's grades » | McShay's best picks » • Team-by-team analysis » | Takeaways » Catch up on free agency: • Biggest impact moves for all 32 teams » • Winners and losers of free agency » • Barnwell: Grades » | Lessons from FA » More on the draft » | More on FA » Howard witnessed a murder -- 10 yards away from him -- while playing basketball outside his house in middle school. His sister is serving a 35-year prison term for felony murder. He grew up in one of Houston's most dangerous areas, Fifth Ward, yet he made it out and continues to be an inspiration for his community. So, yeah, the Dolphins picked a good one to be the cornerstone of their rebuild; that is, until they land their franchise quarterback. This contract extension with Howard wasn't always a foregone conclusion. The Dolphins in 2018 had to trade their best offensive player -- wide receiver Jarvis Landry -- after the two sides couldn't agree on a long-term deal. A source told ESPN that Howard showed a rare patience in dealing with his contract negotiations that most players don't show entering their first big deal. He was willing to quietly enter free agency next offseason if Miami didn't meet his numbers. He wasn't interested in holding out of voluntary workouts, and he didn't make a fuss. Other NFL cornerbacks will thank Howard for this deal. It's a move that will reset the market for every proven top cornerback who is due a new contract soon, including Chris Harris Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Xavier Rhodes. Howard's deal could serve as an example that the Dolphins' new plan might work.<doc-sep>Brynn Anderson/Associated Press Xavien Howard will reportedly be the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. On Monday, the Miami Dolphins confirmed an agreement with Howard through the 2024 season. Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported Thursday that the two sides had agreed to a five-year, $76.5 million extension with $46 million in guaranteed money. Schefter noted the extension is the largest in league history for a cornerback. Miami selected Howard with a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft. While the Baylor product played just seven games as a rookie, he appeared in all 16 of his second season with 48 total tackles, four interceptions and a defensive touchdown. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2018 thanks in large part to seven interceptions, and Pro Football Focus graded him as the 19th-best cornerback in the league. The Dolphins are going to need a formidable secondary if they are going to compete in the AFC East in the coming seasons, considering they have to deal with all-time great Tom Brady and young quarterbacks in Josh Allen and Sam Darnold. Howard is just 25 years old and gives Miami a defensive building block as it looks to return to the playoffs for just the third time since the 2002 campaign.<doc-sep>MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 02: Xavien Howard #25 of the Miami Dolphins looks on during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) The Miami Dolphins inked Xavien Howard to a massive extension that makes him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. Grading the signing for Miami. There’s no one that should mistake the state the Miami Dolphins are in as they enter the 2019 season. With Brian Flores taking over as head coach and Josh Rosen coming into the fold via trade, this is a team that is hitting the reset button as they start along the road to a rebuild. They have some pieces, however, to put them a bit further on that road. And the Dolphins clearly believe Xavien Howard is one of those pieces. On Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report that the Dolphins and the 2016 second-round pick reached an agreement on a lucrative extension. Per Schefter, the deal is worth $76 million over five seasons, including $46 million in guarantees. The deal makes Howard the highest-paid cornerback in the league. For a team in the state of the Dolphins, it certainly makes sense for Miami to try and hang on to the valuable assets that they believe can help them win in the future. Moreover, with Howard being just 26 years old at the start of the 2019 season, it stands to reason why they believe he could be such a player. Having said that, keeping an asset you believe in and making them the highest-paid player at their position are two different things. So when handing out a grade for this extension, it’s hard to totally get on board. XAVIEN HOWARD CB, Miami Dolphins C+ Five-year, $76 million extension ($46 million guaranteed) The C+ grade should not be an indication that there is nothing to like about Howard as a player. In fact, he has show moments throughout his career that he can be a top-tier cornerback at the professional level. The problem, however, is that the Baylor product has never shown that with any kind of notable consistency. As good as he can be at times on the field, Howard can be equally as problematic or forgettable in other instances. He’s been an enigmatic force for Miami’s defense and, while that doesn’t mean you want him to be left off the roster moving forward, it does give you pause about paying him in such a hefty manner as the Dolphins are doing here. Perhaps, with bringing in Flores and hopefully changing the culture in South Beach, the Dolphins believe that they will be able to cultivate an environment in which Howard can become a more reliable and consistent player. That has to be the hope with paying him to this degree because, if he doesn’t develop into that type of contributor, this deal could wind up looking quite egregious in the coming years.<doc-sep>
Jeff Darlington and Victor Cruz break down how Xavien Howard has earned becoming the NFL's highest-paid cornerback. (1:21) DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins are making young star Xavien Howard the NFL's highest-paid cornerback with a five-year, $76.5 million deal that has $46 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Howard will make $51 million over the first three seasons of his new deal, a source said. This move takes care of Howard, the cornerstone of Miami's defense, and sends a strong message to a rebuilding roster that Dolphins general manager Chris Grier is willing to pay young players in their prime. Howard, 25, is coming off his first Pro Bowl season. He was the NFL's co-interception leader with seven in just 12 games. The man known to his teammates as "X" has 11 interceptions over his past 17 games, establishing himself as one of the NFL's best ball-hawking cornerbacks. Negotiations between the Dolphins and Howard's agents have been ongoing over the past few months. Grier and vice president of football administration Brandon Shore satisfied Howard's wishes, caught the eye of the team's best players by taking care of one of its most respected players and retained flexibility to still make big moves in free agency and the draft in 2020. Miami has 10 draft picks (12 including projected compensatory picks) and may have close to $100 million in cap space to start the 2020 league year. The Dolphins can now turn their eyes to locking up their extremely talented left tackle Laremy Tunsil either this offseason or the next. Xavien Howard was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2018 after tying for the league lead with seven interceptions. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports At the Pro Bowl, Howard told ESPN that he wanted to be Miami's franchise player, and at the end of the 2018 season, he said he wanted to be the NFL's highest-paid cornerback. This deal accomplishes both objectives. He becomes Miami's highest-paid player and has surpassed Washington cornerback Josh Norman, who had been the NFL's highest-paid cornerback, signing a five-year, $75 million deal with $36.5 million guaranteed in 2016. Howard was entering the final year of his rookie deal. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound cornerback certainly exceeded expectations after the Dolphins selected him in the second round of the 2016 draft out of Baylor. The new deal sets a slightly higher standard for the top end of a cornerback market that has been stagnant since Norman's deal. The Dolphins were quiet in free agency, but a draft weekend splash to add Josh Rosen and the Howard extension show they are trying to compete in the short term and especially in the long term.