Report: Xavien Howard could change mind about holdout if Miami Dolphins refuse to offer new deal

Disgruntled Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard could miss the start of the team’s training camp over contract issues, but reportedly may end up changing his mind about his current holdout.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald indicated that Howard, who’s upset about the team not renegotiating his current contract, appears likely to be absent from training camp when it gets underway.

“A source close to Howard, who turns 28 on Sunday, said he expects Howard to hold out at the start of training camp — if he hasn’t been given a raise by that point — but acknowledged it’s possible he could change his mind,” Jackson wrote.

Howard, who signed a five-year contract extension in 2019 that was worth more than $75 million, is upset because his fellow starting cornerback, Byron Jones, currently has a more lucrative deal.

That issue resulted in Howard skipping the team’s recent minicamp and comes after an outstanding season in which he collected 10 interceptions and 20 pass deflections.

The Dolphins have apparently not ruled out adjusting Howard’s deal, though they also haven’t given any indication that it’s a potential consideration.

Howard could boycott the team’s training camp and sit out the season in protest, which would mean that he gets paid nothing this year. He may end up asking for a trade, though there’s no guarantee that the Dolphins will deal him away.