Jeff Duncan says, Saints are very interested in bidding for Xavien Howard.
I'm sure the Dolphins would've loved it if they could've signed Jones for much, much less but they couldn't. The market dictated his contract, not the team. Can't blame the Dolphins for the way the market works. There are players all over the league who are making top 5 at their position money but aren't actually one of the 5 best players. It's not just about talent, it's about when you sign. Just look at where these players are in the top 5 at their position:
Dak Prescott #2
Jared Goff #5
Keenan Allen #3
Amari Cooper #4
Hunter Henry #3
Jonnu Smith #4
Andrus Peat #2
And when Jones signed, he was not a top 5 CB in the league. So, there was no reason for him to get top 5 money. Now, Howard just elevated his game to a $20 million annual level. Is he not within his rights to ask for a raise? In a year where the NFL told officials to only call holding if it’s obvious, a passing league, dude allowed less than 45 yards a game against him. 10 interceptions and 20 PBUs. I’ve seen CBs on our team allow more than 45 yards on one pass play, multiple times a game, and couldn’t even haul in interceptions when it hit them right in the hands. Watch that guy play and you will see why he is worth more than he is making. I’d rather pay Howard and Latt big money, than pay Latt and Marcus Williams big money. Just my $.02
Also, Darius Slay signed his contract a day after Jones did. Until that point, Slay was the better player out of he and Jones. So, why didn’t the Eagles pay Slay more, if the “market was reset”? I mean, they saw what Jones got a day earlier. Bc Slay was not in the top 5 CB conversation. Neither was Jones. So, like I said, the Dolphins created that problem being stupid.
Also, when mentioning players that are in the top 5 that are not making top 5 money. Do all of these players shut their mouths and just wait until their contract is up or players asking for a raise just a Howard thing? This is not a new development. Howard has a case to say that he is the best CB in the entire league. Almost all of the top 5 players can’t say that. In fact, Howard should have probably been voted the defensive player of the year over Aaron Donald. Donald (who is an absolute freak) isn’t doing anything that he hasn’t already done. However, what Howard did (10 interceptions) hasn’t been done since 2007. And yet, he only got 3 first place votes. So, not only is he getting disrespected by his own team, he’s getting disrespected by the voters. Guy just wants to be appreciated. What is the harm in that? It’s not my money.