The Cincinnati Bengals brought in free agent Xavien Howard for a visit as the team tries to fix their abysmal defense on the fly. After a relatively slow start to the season, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is in the midst of arguably the best season of his impressive career. Through 10 games, the former first-overall pick is completing 68.7% of his passes for 2,672 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. Despite this, the team is 4-6, largely because the defense cannot stop anything. The unit currently ranks 28th in EPA/play allowed and could use someone like Howard.
Thanks to a last-second blocked field goal, Cincinnati is just one game behind the Denver Broncos in the AFC playoff picture. Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase have the talent to beat just about anyone on any given Sunday, but the defense must do a better job if they want to hoist a Lombardi trophy. Xavien Howard might not have another 10-interception season in his tank, but he should be able to start for the Bengals. The only problem is that Cincinnati shouldn’t be the only team interested in securing his services.
Bengals Could Steal Xavien Howard From Chiefs, Ravens
The Kansas City Chiefs have a strong defense as evidenced by their 9-0 record and their 11th-best EPA/play allowed. However, if there is one weakness on this team, it’s at the cornerback position. Trent McDuffie remains one of the game’s better starters, but he can’t cover the entire field by himself. While the depth behind him is good enough to slow down first-round pick Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos, it might not be enough to stop teams like the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, or Cincinnati Bengals.
Xavien Howard isn’t the player he once was, but he can help slow down these elite passing attacks if the Bengals don’t sign him. With former fourth-round pick Jaylen Watson sidelined for the foreseeable future, Kansas City does not have a good Plan B for the cornerback position. Howard is easily the best option left on the market, and the former All-Pro shouldn’t cost too much. The Chiefs aren’t as good as their undefeated record suggests, but they’re still Super Bowl favorites and adding Howard will only increase their odds of becoming the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
More Help In Baltimore
Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry lead the NFL’s most dangerous offense, but this defense could singlehandedly keep them from winning the Super Bowl. After losing several key free agents, the Ravens had no choice but to replace departed starters like Jadeveon Clowney, Patrick Queen, and Geno Stone with untested depth options and cost-effective free agents. That approach hasn’t worked, as Baltimore’s defeense ranks near the bottom of most meaningful passing statistics. The team traded for Tre’Davious White, but he won’t be enough to save this secondary.
With Marlon Humphrey battling injury and first-round pick Nate Wiggins struggling, this team could use another defensive back. Perhaps Xavien Howard is nothing more than a depth player at this point in his career, but the free agent could’ve helped last week against the Cincinnati Bengals. This defense doesn’t need to be as good as the 2000 iteration of the team, but they can’t bank on winning every game in a shootout.
Main Photo: Jasen Vinlove – USA Today Sports
