NFL Rumors: Xavien Howard to Be Cut by Dolphins; CB to Have 'Significant' FA Market

After eight seasons with the Miami Dolphins, cornerback Xavien Howard is set to become a free agent this offseason, according to a report from NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Fox Sports' Peter Schrager.

The Dolphins have told Howard he will be "released at the start of the league year," according to Garafolo.

Garafolo wrote that Howard will net "significant interest" in the free-agent market.

Howard has three years remaining on his five-year deal.

The former All-Pro cornerback recorded 45 tackles, one interception and 12 pass deflections in 13 games last season. His season ended early due to a left foot injury.

Howard will leave Miami having twice led the NFL in interceptions on his way to recording 29 picks in eight seasons.

David Canter, Howard's agent, posted on X after the news broke:

The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson reported Wednesday that the Dolphins had not yet informed Howard of their plans and had not asked him to accept a pay cut.

Although Howard has been part of multiple off-field incidents during his time with the Dolphins, including a 2019 arrest on domestic battery charges, it is likely that the decision to cut him was centered around the structure of his contract. Howard's $15.4 million salary in 2024 is not guaranteed, and his cap number is about to skyrocket.

After costing the Dolphins $10 million against the cap in 2023, that cap hit was set to rise to $26 million next season. That would have put Howard above quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as the fourth-biggest cap hit in Miami.

The Dolphins will wait until June 1 to make those cap adjustments. Cutting Howard before that date would leave the team with more than $23 million in dead cap and just $2.8 million in savings, according to Over the Cap.

Designating him as one of the team's two post-June 1 cuts, however, leaves the Dolphins with a $7.4 million hit for 2024 and $18.5 million in cap savings.

The retooling Dolphins plan to clear out more cap space by releasing defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah after a down season in 2023, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

It's not clear whether Ogbah will be designated as a post-June 1 cut.