Dolphins trade for one of draft’s top playmakers, make flurry of moves. And Howard update

The Dolphins added one of the most dynamic playmakers in this past April’s NFL Draft via trade and reduced their roster to the 53-player limit on Saturday by cutting 24 players, including five who started multiple games for them last year.

Miami’s big move of the day was its acquisition of Lynn Bowden Jr., a multi-purpose offensive threat who was drafted by Las Vegas in the third round in April. As part of the deal, Miami gets a sixth-round pick and sends the Raiders the fourth-round pick that Miami acquired last week from Las Vegas in the trade for linebacker Raekwon McMillan.

Bowden, drafted 80th overall, was being used at running back by the Raiders. According to a source, the Dolphins like his potential at wide receiver and plan to use him at that position.

The Dolphins loved Bowden before the draft and arranged a meeting with him at team headquarters that was canceled because of the NFL’s COVID-19 rules. They Dolphins instead did a FaceTime session with him.

Last year, Bowden was asked to start the final eight games of his junior season at quarterback, and he helped lead the Wildcats to the Belk Bowl. He also won the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most outstanding all-purpose player and received first-team Associated Press All-American all-purpose recognition.

Bowden rushed for 1,468 yards (185 carries, 7.9 per carry) and 13 touchdowns while also leading the Wildcats in receiving (30 catches-348 yards-11.6 average, one TD in five starts to begin the year) and contributing as a returner (4-53-13.2 on punts, 9-220-24.4 on kickoffs) to finish in the top five nationally in all-purpose yards. He went 6-2 as a quarterback last season and passed sparingly (35 for 74, 403 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions).

Bowden was a second-team All-SEC pick as an all-purpose performer in 2018, leading the team in receiving (67-745-11.1, five TDs), starring as a returner (25-539-21.6 on kickoff returns; 5-146-29.9 andtwo punt returns for TDs -- tied for first nationally) and starting 12 of 13 games played.

He averaged a remarkable 22.1 yards on nine career punt returns, including two touchdowns. And he led the SEC in third down rushing last season - and was second nationally - with 404 yards on 44 attempts, a 9.2 average.

CUTS MADE

In addition to releasing quarterback Josh Rosen, the Dolphins dumped four others who started at least three games last year: guards Danny Isidora and Shaq Calhoun, cornerback Ken Webster and linebacker Trent Harris. Also cut: wide receiver Gary Jennings, a fourth-round pick by Seattle in 2019.

And the Dolphins might not be done. They claimed five players off waivers on the Sunday before Labor Day last year. If they are again active on the waiver wire, that would require additional cuts this weekend.

Where Miami stands at each position after a flurry of moves:

▪ Quarterback: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa will be on the 53-man roster, and a QB likely will be added to the practice squad, perhaps Jake Rudock or a player released Saturday.

▪ Running back: Matt Breida, Jordan Howard, Patrick Laird, Myles Gaskin and Chandler Cox are on the 53. Undrafted rookie Salvon Ahmed and veteran Kalen Ballage were waived. Ballage received an injury settlement.

▪ Wide receiver: Miami has seven: DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Jakeem Grant, rookie Malcolm Perry, Bowden, Isaiah Ford and Mack Hollins. Jennings, Andy Jones and undrafted rookies Kirk Merritt and Matt Cole were waived.

▪ Tight end: The Dolphins kept Mike Gesicki, Durham Smythe and Adam Shaheen and waived Chris Myarick and Nate Wieting.

▪ Offensive line: Miami retained tackles Austin Jackson, Jesse Davis, Julien Davenport and Adam Pankey; centers Ted Karras and Michael Deiter; and guards Ereck Flowers, Solomon Kindley and Robert Hunt.

Besides Calhoun and Isidora, the Dolphins also waived guard Keaton Sutherland, guard Durval Queiroz-Neto and tackle Jonathan Hubbard.

▪Defensive line: Shaq Lawson, Emanuel Ogbah, Jason Strowbridge, Christian Wilkins, Davon Godchaux, Raekwon Davis and Zach Sieler made the 53-man roster. Tyshun Render, Benito Jones and Brandin Bryant were cut.

▪ Linebacker: The Dolphins kept Kyle Van Noy, Jerome Baker, Elandon Roberts, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Andrew Van Ginkel, Sam Eguaoven and Calvin Munson. Undrafted rookie Kylan Johnson was cut.

▪ Safeties: Bobby McCain, Eric Rowe, Brandon Jones, Clayton Fejedelem and Kavon Frazier are on the 53. Miami waived Nate Brooks and Nathan Holley, who was the Canadian League’s Rookie of the Year last season.

▪ Cornerback: Five were kept on the 53: Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, Noah Igbinoghene, Jamal Perry and Nik Needham.

Tae Hayes, Ken Webster and Breon Borders were released. Hayes was on the team until Bowden was acquired, according to a source.

▪ Specialists: Kicker Jason Sanders, punter Matt Haack and rookie long-snapper Blake Ferguson did not have competition during training camp.

The Dolphins can sign 16 players to their practice squad, with as many as six permitted to have an unlimited number of years of experience.

HOWARD ENCOURAGED

Cornerback Xavien Howard, who was activated from the COVID-19 and PUP lists more than a week ago, said he’s feeling healthy after December knee surgery but declined to say if he would be ready to play in Miami’s Sept. 13 opener at New England.

“Everything has been good,” he said. Howard participated in last weekend’s scrimmage, raising hopes he would be available for the opener.

Asked if his recovery from surgery took longer than expected, Howard said: “No. I feel like it was perfect timing. Me and the Dolphins, we did a great job. We stayed and believed in the plan that we had. With that plan, it worked perfectly fine. Everything has been good.”

Limited to five games and one interception last season because of the knee injury, Howard and the Dolphins hope he can regain his 2018 form, when he had seven interceptions and made the Pro Bowl.

“Each year, you’ve got to set the bar higher,” he said. “...I should come back on top again.”

Howard is excited about pairing with pricey free agent pickup Byron Jones.

“We can do a lot of great things, just having another top-tier corner on the side,” he said. It [is] a great idea, me and Byron outside.”

Howard praised rookie first-round cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, saying he’s “very strong and fast” and continually improving.