KC Chiefs listed among possible landing spots for Xavien Howard

Some incredible defenders are available on the NFL’s trade block during the ’21 preseason, including Arizona Cardinals pass rusher Chandler Jones and Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard. However, given the current financial picture and the comfort level in the secondary, it makes sense to think the K.C. Chiefs are going to sit still when it comes to the latter.

That’s not what Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports believes, however, since he lists the Chiefs as one of five logical landing spots for the Howard’s services in a recent column.

Two playoff teams, identities unknown, have already reportedly checked in with the Dolphins on a potential deal for Howard, which means that the Chiefs could very well have kicked the tires on the idea. Any general manager worth his salt will know the asking price, since Howard would be an upgrade in basically any secondary around the National Football League. But whether it’s worth meeting both the trade demands from Miami and the cost of a new contract extension is something else.

The Chiefs were mentioned as landing spot for Xavien Howard.

DeArdo makes his case by pointing to the lack of other moves at the position this offseason, saying:

"The Chiefs made drastic changes on the offensive line after watching Patrick Mahomes turn into Fran Tarkenton in Super Bowl LV. And while it wasn’t as big of a need, the Chiefs didn’t do much to improve a secondary that was outmatched by Tom Brady in last year’s big game."

This much is true. The Chiefs even allowed Bashaud Breeland to leave in the offseason and pulled off a minor trade in order to bring in Mike Hughes from the Minnesota Vikings, the same team that landed Breeland on a one-year deal. Instead, the team seems to be leaning on Hughes in a change of environment to go with Deandre Baker as a holdover from last season returning from a fractured femur.

At this point, the Chiefs have their big-ticket items and that’s before they ask safety Tyrann Mathieu and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to join them to sign long-term extensions themselves. The Chiefs will get a bit of a financial reprieve when some further contracts come off the books next spring, but it’s also when some others get very, very expensive (including Patrick Mahomes). To add another new contract just makes little sense at a position with some cost-controlled exciting talent already.

Each of the other teams mentioned here—the Cardinals, Seahawks, Titans, and Saints—make more sense when it comes to a deal with Howard for various reasons rather than throwing the Chiefs into the mix because of a lack of activity at the position.

Then again, we’ve all been surprised by how aggressive Veach can be at times for someone he believes will be a difference maker, and the Chiefs have molded the financial picture in K.C. to bend how they want it many times before.