The Miami Dolphins are currently in the eye of the hurricane that is the NFL trade deadline rumor mill. Miami has been linked to Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson amid the struggles of incumbent starter Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins may look to sell off some of their valuable veterans, as the team his stumbled to a 1-6 record after losing only six games all of last season.
Dolphins star cornerback Xavien Howard had only three words and a gesture to express his feelings about his mindset as the trade deadline approaches:
Xavien Howard is asked what goes through his mind when his name pops up as a possible trade option.
Howard points to his chest and says, “Miami Dolphins, baby,” with a smile. pic.twitter.com/QZv75APZvh
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) October 28, 2021
Howard's blunt and short response shows that his only concern is the performance of his team. And there are many reasons to be concerned about it. The Dolphins' defense allows almost 30 points per game and allows the seventh-most yards per play in the league. On offense, they rank 28th in yards per play with one of the weakest rushing attacks and a turnover-prone starting quarterback.
Despite being one of the team's better players, Howard is someone the Dolphins might want to consider shopping. The All-Pro cornerback is sure to draw attention if Miami makes him available, as he has led the league in interceptions twice and defended a league-high 20 passes last season. He has three years remaining on his contract.
Keeping Howard is a sensible option, as well. But as the team continues to sputter and lose, it may benefit Miami to accumulate draft capital by sending away one of their premier assets, especially considering the Philadelphia Eagles own their 2022 first-round draft pick.
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