The Minnesota Vikings prioritized strengthening their defense in free agency, and they may be able to accomplish this goal by signing Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard.
With three years left on his five-year, $90 million deal extension, the Miami Dolphins dismissed Howard in February in order to stay under the 2024 salary ceiling. This marked the 30-year-old All-Pro cornerback’s first trip into free agency in his eight-year career.
According to Garrett Podell of CBS Sports, Howard would be best served by joining the Vikings. Howard has stated that he would be willing to negotiate a less expensive contract and rejoin defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
“In Brian Flores’ first season in charge, the Minnesota Vikings defense significantly improved under his tutelage. They were still poor against the pass, though (234.5 yards per game, 24th in the league), and Flores’s smoke and mirrors scheme was largely responsible for their success. On March 22, Podell wrote.
“Without Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter, who ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in both pressures (80, 10th) and sacks (16.5, fifth), Flores had Minnesota blitzing at a league-high rate of 50.7% in an attempt to counter their lack of pass rush (32.1% quarterback pressures rate, 27th in NFL),” Podell continued. Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard have taken Hunter’s place.
Flores was Howard’s head coach for three seasons from 2019 to 2021, and the Vikings could use some veteran wisdom on the defensive end. Both parties would benefit from a reunion in the Twin Cities.
Howard and Flores have a subtle relationship. Flores guided Howard from 2019 to 2021 as he advanced to receive his first All-Pro selection in 2020. That season, Howard finished first in the league with 10 interceptions and allowed just a 51.2% completion percentage on targets in his path. This performance helped him qualify for three straight Pro Bowls.
The Vikings may still be interested in adding veteran cornerback Howard, as reported by Diana Russini of The Athletic, who claims the team “poked around” at the possibility of signing L’Jarius Sneed, the top cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs.
