Following his release from the Miami Dolphins this offseason, veteran cornerback Xavien Howard has interest in playing close to home.
During an appearance this week on The OGs podcast (h/t SI.com's Coty M. Davis), Howard discussed his desire to potentially sign with the Houston Texans: "I would love to do that; back at home, the crib. "I have Houston Rockets and the Texans tatted on me. ... It's a realistic option for me. They have a hell of a quarterback. I love a defensive coach."
The 30-year-old Howard has spent his entire eight-year NFL career in South Florida, but he was born and raised in Houston, and he attended college at Baylor in Waco, Texas.
Howard is a four-time Pro Bowler and one-time First Team All-Pro who has recorded 29 interceptions in 100 career regular-season games. That includes leading the league with seven interceptions in 2018 and 10 in 2020.
Injuries marred Howard's 2023 campaign, as he was limited to 13 games and finished with just one interception.
Miami decided to move on from Howard, releasing him to save money against the salary cap and replacing him with free-agent signing Kendall Fuller, who will be the team's No. 2 corner across from Jalen Ramsey.
The Texans have an elite top cornerback in 2022 first-round pick Derek Stingley Jr., but there are question marks surrounding their No. 2 corner spot.
Houston signed a pair of former first-round picks this offseason in Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson, but neither has lived up to expectations in the NFL thus far.
Howard is a proven veteran who can potentially help take Stingley to the next level with his guidance, plus he could be a mentor for Okudah and Henderson as well.
Also, given that Stingley, Okudah and Henderson all have an injury history, Howard would bring some much-needed depth and insurance.
The Texans were one of the NFL's most pleasant surprises last season, going 10-7, winning the AFC South and winning a playoff game after going 3-13-1 in 2022.
Perhaps the biggest reasons for the turnaround were the arrival of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans, who proved to be a formidable duo in 2023.
Houston is a team on the rise and could be a Super Bowl contender for many years to come, so it makes sense for Howard to want to chase a championship with his hometown team.
