Former Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard did not play football in 2024, but the 32-year-old veteran has decided to make a return to the game he loves for the 2025 NFL season.
According to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Indianapolis Colts have agreed to terms with Howard. David Canter, Howard’s agent, has confirmed the signing.
Howard — a former All-Pro cornerback and four-time Pro Bowler — played
8 years in the NFL, all with the Miami Dolphins. His most impressive year was in 2020, when he led the league in interceptions with 10. Howard also had a league-leading 20 pass breakups according to Pro Football Reference.
Miami’s former CB1 also led the league in interceptions in 2018 with seven. In total, Howard started 99 out of 100 games for the Dolphins, finishing with 29 interceptions, 95 pass breakups, 254 total tackles, and four touchdowns (2 interceptions returned/2 fumble recoveries).
Howard was drafted by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft (38th overall) out of Baylor, and quickly established himself as one of the league’s top shutdown corners. The veteran now hopes to bolster a Colts’ secondary that desperately needs help on the perimeter.
As for Miami, they, too, have been calling around to available free agents. Earlier today, news broke that the Dolphins were meeting with EDGE Matthew Judon. This not only worries me that someone is injured or an impending trade could go down, but it still leaves a glaring need in the secondary. And as we’ll see over the next 24-48 hours, teams are going to start signing guys they need.
Could that be Rasul Douglass or Asante Samuel Jr.? That’s probably where I’d start, but with rosters needing to be finalized #soon, it is anyone’s guess as to what tricks General Manager Chris Grier & head coach Mike McDaniel could have up their sleeves.
As for Howard, the Dolphins will get an up-close and personal look at him in Week 1, when Miami travels to Indianapolis to take on the Colts.
What are your thoughts on former Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard returning to the league to play for the Indianapolis Colts? Do you think the Dolphins should be calling around for cornerback help? What are your thoughts on the Matt Judon interest? Let us know in the comments section below!
