The Miami Dolphins couldn’t have predicted how things would turn out when they signed Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Jones to a huge contract last year.
The former Dallas Cowboys cornerback was acquired by the Fins to join fellow star cornerback Xavien Howard in forming one of the league’s scariest secondary units.
Regrettably, such has not been the case.
Instead, the Dolphins’ front staff is juggling a tangled contract scenario involving both players.
Byron Jones is the sixth most paid cornerback in the NFL. He inked a five-year, $82.5 million contract with Miami last year, which included a $10.5 million signing bonus and $54,375,000 in guaranteed money.
Jones will earn an average of $16.5 million per season under the new contract, making him the league’s sixth highest paid cornerback.
Jalen Ramsey of the Los Angeles Rams earns the greatest money, with $21 million per season.
Jones will earn a $14 million base salary and a signing bonus of roughly $2 million this season.
Xavien Howard is dissatisfied Xavien Howard was the greatest cornerback in the NFL in 2020.
With ten interceptions, the 28-year-old led the league for the second time in his career.
In his six seasons in the NFL, his cornerback partner Byron Jones has only four interceptions.
Howard, who boycotted all of Miami’s OTAs until reluctantly reporting to training camp this week to avoid the hefty fines he would face if he continued to hold out, is well aware of this.
Howard is seeking a new contract that reflects his outstanding performance; however, he only signed a five-year, $75.25 million pact with the team in 2019.
He issued a lengthy message on his social media platforms yesterday, stating why he is dissatisfied with the Miami Dolphins team.
Howard specifically mentioned the financial disparity between himself and Jones in his statement.
“I’m one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, and those who suggest otherwise are lying.”
The jobs I’m given, such as shadowing the opposition’s best players with a little assistance, demonstrate my worth, my value.
Despite this, I am my team’s second-highest aid cornerback, and it isn’t even close.
The two-time Pro Bowl cornerback is looking for a trade since the Dolphins are unlikely to offer him the huge contract he wants.
Should the Dolphins be kicking themselves for signing Byron Jones?
Yes, but not because Xavien Howard has demanded a move.
Miami will come to regret signing Byron because his performance has fallen far short of his compensation.
Jones has 37 tackles, four pass defenses, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and zero sacks in his first season with the Dolphins.
These aren’t bad numbers, but they’re not what the team would expect from the NFL’s fifth-best cornerback.
Especially when his teammate Xavien Howard outperformed him in every metric.
If Jones were to play at a Pro Bowl level, Howard would have lot less to complain about, and the club would be in a much better position.
Arnav Kholkar edited the piece.
