Some of the biggest question marks the Tennessee Titans have on their 2021 roster comes from the cornerback position, so it comes as no surprise that the team has been dubbed a possible landing spot for Miami Dolphins star corner, Xavien Howard, who has requested to be traded.
CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo recently named five teams he considers possible landing spots for Howard, and the Titans were among them.
Tennessee could use some help at cornerback, especially with first-round pick Caleb Farley currently on the team’s physically unable to perform list (PUP). Along with acquiring one of the league’s premier cornerbacks, Howard would give the Titans the luxury of not rushing Farley onto the field. The Titans would have two veteran cornerbacks in Howard and Janoris Jenkins along with youngsters Farley and 2020 second-round pick Kristian Fulton. The Titans have future draft equity to make this deal work; the real challenge would be reworking their current salary cap situation (they are 21st in the league in available cap space).
Along with the Titans, DeArdo lists the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals.
As we wrote in a separate article, the Titans should absolutely inquire about trading for the former Pro Bowler and All-Pro with the franchise clearly all-in on the 2021 season.
He’d be a great fit for a Titans team that wants to play more man coverage, and his status as an elite lockdown corner would shore up the position for Tennessee overall, making their defense far more formidable.
Money could be an issue, though. The Titans would have to figure out how to squeeze in Howard’s $16.2 million cap hit for 2021 with the team having just $8.3 million in cap space, and they’d likely have to re-work his deal because Howard is looking for more guaranteed money.
However, if general manager Jon Robinson can find a way to make it work, we’d happily give up picks and take on the money if it means securing a major impact player like Howard, who could put the Titans over the top.
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