Does 3rd Surgery of Howard Affect Phins Drafting?

Howard has a huge contract, one complete season, and three surgeries on his knees

What Dolphins fan isn’t glad to have Xavien Howard on the team? Good guy, talented, hard worker, and when healthy a playmaker. The problem is both of Howard’s knees have been an issue since his first training camp.

In Howard’s four seasons as a Phin, the 2017 campaign is his only full season. Because of continuous knee issues, Howard has played in just 38 out of 64 possible games.

And now Howard has had his most invasive surgery to date.

Here’s the picture Howard posted of his post-op knee. Will this surgery be a turn towards a healthier career… or just another blip in a bad trend?

The good news is that maybe this surgery will fix what arthroscopic surgery couldn’t. Howard’s cuts coming out of breaks this season were never sharp. He had little burst, and his technique looked was poor. It didn’t make sense for a player of his caliber. Now it does. Even corners as talented as Howard can’t play with a bum knee.

Remember when Howard didn’t play in the 2nd preseason game? I’d bet with the sports betting software sites that had to do with his new knee issue.

The problem is Miami won’t find out if Howard is past these knee issues for a season or two. So what should the Phins do in the meantime: Bank on him being fine, hope Tankersly figures it out, use a premium pick on a corner this year… or next, or try to find a gem in the mid-rounds as they did with Howard?

What to do, what to do?

If Miami loses out on Joe Burrow and Chase Young could star cornerback Jeffery Okudah be the pick? Offensive Line is a crucial need and Tackle Andrew Thomas would be a great fit… but the position is deeper than cornerback. As an example, Houston Tackle Josh Jones is the highest graded OT in the country and he’ll be available in the early twenties. While Jones isn’t Thomas, he does project well.

Quarterback, cornerback, and tackle are the hardest position to find elite talent. If Miami plays their cards right they could land Okudah and Jones? Two out of three ain’t bad?

Thanks to Christian for putting together this tap on Okudah

Watch this film at 1.5 speed as Okudah is rarely tested… but man, didn’t he look excellent when he was?!

Okudah has limited opposing QBs to a ridiculous 37.6 pass rating when throwing at him and is a near carbon copy of Xavien Howard in play and size. Howard is 6’1” 198lbs and Okudah 6’1” 200lbs. Both are at their best in off and man press bail coverage.

At worst, Miami would draft a corner who could fill Howard’s shoes if the injury bug keeps biting. At Best, Miami would be three deep at cornerback with Howard, Okudah, and Needham.

Trevon Diggs brings a unique talent to Miami

If missing out on Thomas is too much to bear, Alabama corner Trevon Diggs is another very intriguing option who will likely come off the board mid-1st round. At 6’2” 207 lbs, Diggs bring something Miami needs on defense and doesn’t have: a press corner who actually presses. He has a similar style as Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Now, I’m not saying he’ll be as good, but when’s the last time Dolphins corners actually pressed receivers effectively?

Maybe Phins could make a slight move up with one of their later 1st Rounders or roll the dice that he drops… if they grab Thomas?

Miami is in somewhat of a precarious position

You can’t blame Howard just as you can’t blame Miami from extending him. But this is the situation and Chris Grier must solve Miami’s terrible pass defense. All top coverage defenses have at least one top cornerback. Howard is that player when healthy. This might be the Dolphins’ best chance to find Howard an elite partner or replacement.

If you look at the Patriots, which is the model for this defense, they generate pressure late in plays through good coverage. This is one reason why the Pats use stunts so heavily and effectively; Stunts provide late-developing pressure because it takes time to execute them. When you watch Dolphins this season there are plenty of plays where they are just a beat or beat and a half late to arrive. Adding an elite corner might help on two fronts: coverage and pressure.

I’m not sold on any direction in the draft yet… other than Burrow or Young. But the more I examine the Dolphins options, the more hopeful I am about their situation. While the top two picks offer the best potential, as long as Miami walks away with a Top 5 pick the sky is the limit.

Let’s hope Howard is just fine, but we need to be prepared in case he isn’t. Go Phins!!!

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3 comments

Van Hamlin
December 20, 2019 at 9:52 pm
What moron would draft a DB after we just traded an All Pro Safety/CB to Pittsburgh? We need to trade down for a slew of picks and replenish the O-line as well as D- Line. We can’t run the ball and we can’t stop the run! We need to acquire a acceptable (not all pro) RB via free agency.
There is no sense taking anyone except Chase young with a high draft pick. This team’s cupboard is so bare, it will take three years to repair the damage done through these stupid salary reduction trades.
- admin
  December 20, 2019 at 11:08 pm
  So you can wave a magic wand and force a trade? As you well know, I’m all for it, but a trade back ISN’T a sure thing. Two, Fitzpatrick wanted to play FS and that was it. Parker is having a hell of a season and part of the reason is FS is far easier to find that an elite boundary CB or a versatile CB/LB/S who can play all over. This is why they traded Minkah and didn’t give in to his demands. FS in this scheme isn’t worth the giant contract and can be reasonably replaced. Look at the Pats, Chung and Gilmore are the key pieces of the D. If a coverage, 2-gap scheme meant to win through discipline and bend but don’t break and winning on critical downs. If Miami is stuck at 3-5 and doesn’t find a trade partner… then what? If they must pick at 3-5 who do they choose? Also, they weren’t salaried reduction trades. They were fit trades. Tunsil doesn’t run block well, was reputed to have an inconsistent work ethic, was injured a bit too much and was about to command a huge deal. Minkah was a 2nd player telling the staff how he’d be used or he’d jake it… come on.
- mack
  December 21, 2019 at 6:20 am
  i smell ya, dawg

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