The NFL has continued to evolve into more of a passing league and that has made quarterbacks extremely valuable. Having a really talented quarterback, especially one on a rookie deal (or Tom Brady), is extremely important to a team having success. But for a team to make a deep playoff run, or win a Super Bowl, other players also have to perform at a high level. So, which non-quarterback is the most important player in the AFC East? Here is an AFC East key player who is not a quarterback heading into the 2021 season.
Non-Quarterback Who Is AFC East Key Player in 2021
There are various non-quarterbacks in the AFC East who are capable of making an impressive impact. Some such players include Dont’a Hightower, Stefon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore, Mekhi Becton, and David Andrews. But the most valuable non-quarterback in the AFC East heading into the 2021 season is Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard.
Contract
Earlier this off-season Howard had requested a trade as he was not happy with his contract. Coming into the off-season Howard was set to make $12 million in nonguaranteed money. That ranked him 12th among cornerbacks in the league, which means he was drastically underpaid. In addition, despite being one of the best corners in the league, he was not even the highest-paid cornerback on his own team since Byron Jones will make $16.1 million this coming season.
Now Howard’s base salary of $12.785 million is fully guaranteed and $3.5 million in possible incentives were added. That brings Howard’s total compensation to $16.285 million, which, probably not coincidentally, exceeds Jones’ $16.1 million. The Dolphins will also rescind the $93,000 Howard racked up in fines by skipping the team’s mandatory minicamp.
In addition, in 2022 Howard is scheduled to make $12.975 million, and $6.775 million of that is fully guaranteed. The remaining $6.2 million is guaranteed for injury and will be fully guaranteed on the first day of the league year. In this restructuring of Howard’s deal, Miami also converted $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses and a $100,000 workout bonus to Howard’s base salary.
But the 2022 numbers may be mute as the two sides have said they will try to come to terms on a new deal next off-season.
The Numbers
Since his rookie season in 2016 Howard has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Most people would have him in their top five corners in the NFL. Howard was drafted in the second round (38th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft and in his first five seasons 18.7% of his targets while in coverage have resulted in an interception or pass breakup. That statistic leads all cornerbacks with at least 150 targets during that time.
Since 2016 he has the second-most interceptions (22) in the league. Only Marcus Peters has more (23). Last season Howard had a league-leading 10 interceptions and 20 passes defended. He was selected to his second Pro Bowl and was also named a first-Team All-Pro.
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Value
Not only is Howard one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, the position of cornerback continues to become increasingly more valuable. With the NFL continuing to evolve into more of a passing league, elite pass rushers and lockdown corners have increased in value.
A team having a corner, like Xavien Howard, who can shut down an entire side of a field, or remove the opposing team’s number one receiver, can make the entire defense exponentially better.
Even though Xavien Howard has been dealing with an ankle injury this off-season, he is still the AFC East key player who is not a quarterback heading into the 2021 season.
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