Cleveland Browns must pass on Xavien Howard

Even if the Dolphins pick up the phone and call the Cleveland Browns about Xavien Howard, it should be a hard no.

All of last season, one of the biggest things that was keeping the Cleveland Browns from really putting games away and taking them to the next level was their defense. While current Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard is reportedly not happy and is looking to be traded, the Browns must say no on a potential deal.

It seems pretty safe to say that in most analysts’ eyes, Howard is a top-5 cornerback in the NFL. He has all the intangibles as well as the numbers to back it up. Who wouldn’t want a corner as good as Howard?

Looking at it given the current situation that the Browns are in, it really just doesn’t make sense. Trading for a top 5 cornerback comes with an extremely high price tag. For the Browns, that price tag is not one worth pulling the trigger on.

Howard has already made it clear that he doesn’t want to play on his current 5 year, $75 million dollar deal. For the Browns, unless they dumped an Odell Beckham Jr sized contract, it makes zero sense considering the future and all of the decisions that they are getting ready to make.

For example, having to pay and extend Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Wyatt Teller, and Denzel Ward. They won’t be able to pay all of them, so it will be decision time in Cleveland.

Per B/R Gridiron, a hypothetical deal was the Browns receive Howard, in exchange for sending Greedy Williams, as well as a 2022 2nd and 4th round pick to the Dolphins.

Getting rid of Williams is something I am not for or against, kind of in the middle of the road. Williams seemingly had some potential when on the field, but his career has so far been derailed by nothing but injuries.

With nerve damage in his shoulder, hopefully, we see him back on the field at some point this upcoming season.

With the NFL Draft being unlike any other, you can get talent in practically any round. That said, a 2nd a 4th is a lot to give up, again considering who you have to get ready to pay in the near future.

Not to mention, the Browns and GM Andrew Berry went all out of defensive reinforcements this off-season, snagging Troy Hill and John Johnson to help boost production in the secondary.

Again, adding guys like Howard can’t hurt any team, it can only help. The Browns just aren’t in a good enough position to trade for him, and their already improved defense should be much better than last year’s defense once game time arrives.