Xavien Howard is one of several defensive players who's hoping for a new deal (or preferably to be traded, and then get a new deal), and he can make a strong case for it. Howard's coming off one of the best seasons by a defensive back this century.

Howard last year had 10 interceptions, and it wasn't necessarily a fluke -- he had 7 in 2018, before missing most of the 2019 season. Those 10 picks are tied for the most of any player since 2000. There have been only 43 other seasons with more than 7 in the last 21 years, so about two per year.

Two of those came last year, bolded in the table below: Howard and New England cornerback J.C. Jackson. Howard also led the league last year in passes defensed (that stat is shown in the last column, via pro-football-reference.com).

INTERCEPTIONS, 2000-2020
PlayerYearIntTDPD
Xavien Howard202010020
Antonio Cromartie200710118
Champ Bailey200610121
Asante Samuel200610024
Ty Law200510118
Deltha O'Neal200510020
Ronde Barber200110124
Anthony Henry200110117
J.C. Jackson20209014
Tim Jennings20129121
Jairus Byrd20099011
Asante Samuel20099016
Darren Sharper20099315
Charles Woodson20099318
Ed Reed20089216
Darren Sharper20059216
Ed Reed20049117
Tony Parrish20039018
Brian Russell20039011
Kwamie Lassiter20019015
Deltha O'Neal20019025
Darren Sharper20009017
Kevin Byard20178016
Darius Slay20178026
Reggie Nelson20158014
Marcus Peters20158226
Richard Sherman20138116
Stevie Brown20128011
Richard Sherman20128124
Ed Reed20108016
O.J. Atogwe20078112
Nnamdi Asomugha20068119
Walt Harris20068120
Rashean Mathis20068021
Charles Woodson20068120
Champ Bailey20058223
Nathan Vasher20058116
Tory James20048013
Corey Chavous20038114
Brian Kelly20028021
Rod Woodson20028216
Doug Evans20018119
Ryan McNeil20018016
Dexter McCleon20008019

Working against Howard is that he signed a big-money deal two years ago; he's on a five-year, $76.5 million deal. So maybe Miami is able to work out a slight bump (or perhaps guarantee more of his contract) to smooth things over. His departure, if things play out that way, would be a real negative for Miami's defense.

--Andy Richardson