Encouraging Update on Xavien Howard Situation

INDIANAPOLIS — The status of Xavien Howard was maybe a bit cloudy heading into the offseason, but Miami Dolphins GM Chris Grier said Wednesday he's expecting the three-time Pro Bowl cornerback to be back with the team in 2022.

And Grier understands that likely means another restructured contract for Howard, who requested a trade last summer because of his unhappiness with his deal until the Dolphins moved some around to get him more cash in 2021 and promised him to revisit his contract this offseason.

Grier said he already has had several conversation with Howard's new agent, David Canter.

"We're going to have conversations and see if we can come to some sort of resolution," Grier said. "My anticipation is that Xavien will be here next year."

Howard is about to enter the third year of a five-year, $75 million extension he signed in 2019 that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL before he supplanted by new teammate Byron Jones in the spring of 2020. Howard is now seventh in the NFL in annual salary, according to overthecap.com.

The Baltimore Ravens reportedly called the Dolphins about a potential trade involving Howard last fall and he no doubt would garner major interest on the trade market this offseason.

But that's not the direction the Dolphins want to go, even if it means adjusting his contract again.

"We had made the promise to him -- after the season, we'll make the adjustment," Grier said. "We'll look at it. Play through the season, get us to the third year of the deal and then we'll look at it, talk about it. Just to be truthful with him and do it, that's the right thing to do. If he wants to come back and play on the deal, we would, but we know that's not the case."