Vikings named best landing spot for Cornerback Xavien Howard

According to Howard, he was given full clearance for football activities on the Wednesday before the draft Tom Pelissero from NFL Network. Now that the draft is over, teams will likely contact him soon.

Like Nelson, the Texans and Colts are worth mentioning as possible landing spots for Howard. The same goes for the Minnesota Vikings, whose defensive coordinator is former Miami head coach Brian Flores. Howard yielded 6.8 yards per target and just one touchdown on 62 targets last season.

Vikings have selected cornerbacks in the top half of the last two drafts

GettyCornerback Khyree Jackson, formerly of the Oregon Ducks.

Howard dealt with a foot injury that cost him four games during the regular season. But while 2023 was a down year for Howard, he earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the previous three campaigns and four times overall during his eight-year NFL career.

Howard signed a five-year, $90 million deal with Miami in April 2022, though he’ll likely sign a significantly smaller contract elsewhere this offseason. Minnesota needs more help in the secondary, as evidenced by their decisions in the last few drafts.

The Vikings added cornerback Mekhi Blackmon from USC in the third round in 2023 (their second overall pick of that draft), before selecting Oregon’s Khyree Jackson in the fourth round this year (their third overall pick).

After having no picks in the second and third rounds, the Vikings used their first pick on Day 3 to address their need for physical corners who can play man coverage,” the Star Tribune wrote on Saturday. “Jackson is a 6-foot-1 corner who ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and has shown he is not afraid to challenge receivers. … He had three interceptions and seven pass breakups for the Ducks last season, along with two sacks and five tackles for a loss.

Xavien Howard could replicate the value the Vikings got from CB Patrick Peterson

GettyFormer Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson.

Blackmon played in 15 games during his rookie season, although he started only three. Minnesota’s regular starters in 2023 were Byron Murphy Jr. and Akayleb Evans, who Pro Football Focus ranked last year as the 87th and 99th best cornerbacks in the NFL, respectively, among 127 players who saw enough snaps to qualify at the position. Blackmon was 32nd according to PFF, though he often saw fewer snaps against presumably easier matchups than Murphy or Evans.

Murphy is only under contract for one season, while Evans – a 2022 fourth-round pick – has two years left on his contract. Minnesota also added veteran CB Shaq Griffin to a one-year deal this offseason.

Howard, who will play in 2024 at age 31, likely isn’t a long-term solution for the Vikings. However, if Minnesota were to sign him, his career path could resemble that of former Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson.

Peterson, an eight-time Pro Bowler, arrived in Minneapolis in 2021 as a 31-year veteran. He played two good years for the Vikings on a cost-effective deal. His play/pay added value to the defense as Peterson started 30 games and was responsible for 20 pass breakups and 6 INTs during that span.