Bills fans should enjoy Xavien Howard trade request drama

Soak it up Buffalo Bills fans. Seeing Xavien Howard and his official trade request is something to celebrate.

After Howard posted a statement showing his desire to leave the Miami Dolphins, it’s time to enjoy the chaos that comes with it. If Miami can’t find a suitor or negotiate a deal with a team, then that drama afterward is what will be worth watching.

Howard is following a similar path to former Dolphins Free Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was a standout in his rookie season for the team in 2018. After getting blown out by the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 of the 2019 season, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Whether it was that loss alone or his unwillingness to play for Brian Flores, the Dolphins clearly have a problem with their secondary stars. Miami is currently the only threat in the division to split the series with the Buffalo Bills. If Howard gets traded, Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs will feast on this team twice a year.

Xavien Howard leaving will only make the defense of the AFC East title easier

Looking behind Howard on the depth chart is Noah Igbinoghene, a 2020 first-round pick out of Auburn who didn’t see much playing time last season. There’s also the possibility that maybe Jason McCourty switches over from the right side.

Unless the Dolphins swing Xavien Howard for some instant-impact player (maybe Chandler Jones, for example), it doesn’t impact the Bills chances of sweeping the AFC east again. Although we all saw what Chris Grier did before the NFL draft, moving all around and gaining first-round picks like it was a game of tic-tac-toe.

Buffalo’s new pass rush of “Boogie” Basham and Gregory Rousseau would get a lot of reps rushing Tua Tagovailoa, and the more work the pass rush department can get, the better.