Habib: Pairing J.C. Jackson with Xavien Howard makes heart flutter (then reality sets in)

On one hand, the odds of it coming to fruition probably are slim.

On the other hand, nobody loves to make a splash in free agency like the Dolphins.

And this one (remember, it’s likely unlikely) might be the biggest splash yet.

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There has been “some buzz” about the Dolphins making a run at Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson, according to Ben Volin, NFL columnist for The Boston Globe and a former Dolphins beat writer for The Post, via Twitter on Tuesday.

Think about it. Jackson, who has 17 interceptions over the past two years, teaming with Xavien Howard, who is second on that list with 15 INTs.

Think about a modern-day version of Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain … coached by Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain.

Think about “some buzz” erupting over whether J.C. and X could someday take their place alongside Lester Hayes/Michael Haynes, and Madison/Surtain, as the best cornerback tandems ever sicced on receivers.

Excited? Great. Now, let’s exhale.

Is J.C. Jackson's $20 million price unreasonable?

Jackson, who’s only 26 and from Immokalee High, reportedly has a figure in mind that’s a Jalen Ramsey-ish $20 million per year, which raises several issues:

• If the Dolphins cough up that much, inflated to satisfy the free-agency gods, what happens during the planned renegotiations with Howard? If Howard wasn’t thrilled to be the second-highest paid corner on the team behind Byron Jones, what makes anyone think he’d be joyful taking a back seat to Jackson?

• And if the Dolphins try to make everybody equally happy, is there any way a team could splurge to the tune of $40 million in cap space to two corners? Especially when it has holes to fill at running back, receiver and offensive line? Yes, some of those needs can be addressed via cheap draft picks, but not all.

• If Bill Belichick isn’t willing to pay that to retain Jackson, doesn’t it require other teams to do homework on why?

You want to say this is a pipe dream, but think back to 2015, when nobody saw the Ndamukong Suh $114 million deal coming.

Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the locker-room wall the first time Jackson walked in? Remember what Jackson said after the opener against Miami and Tua Tagovailoa? "That’s what Tua do. If he doesn’t have his first read, he’s just going to throw the ball up."

What to do with Byron Jones?

What about Jones, whose current cap figure is the costliest on the Dolphins at $16.4 million? Obviously the Dolphins would have to part with him, but how?

Cutting Jones would mean dead money of $12.3 million (before June 1) or $8.1 million (after June 1). Trading him would slice the dead money to $6.3 million (pre-June 1) or $2.1 million (after), but the first rule of making a trade is it’s beneficial to have a dancing partner to do it. No team is going to volunteer to bail out Miami out of the goodness of its heart.

Yes, this random other team might be able to renegotiate terms with Jones and the Dolphins to make the money more palatable for all involved, but ask yourself this: No matter what, that team will be devoting serous money for a good corner in Jones, but also one who has two interceptions — total — over the past four seasons. Why not go the extra mile and just chase Jackson, who’s three years younger?

Then, there's this: Jones posted images on social media on Wednesday showing he underwent surgery on the lower portion of his left leg or foot. It wasn't clear when the surgery took place or exactly what it was for.

Jones missed only the Oct. 17 game in London vs. Jacksonville this past season. At various points in 2021, he was listed as having quadriceps, Achilles and groin injuries, but he was not listed on the team's injury report for most of the second half of the season.

Jackson, who made his first Pro Bowl this season, was charged with allowing three touchdown passes in 2021. Quarterbacks targeted his man 106 times, resulting in eight interceptions, 52 completions and a 46.8 passer rating. His Pro Bowl teammate, Howard, allowed a 72.6 rating this year and a 48.3 in his All-Pro season of 2020.

Put them together and what do you have?

An awful lot of rushing plays.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: ‘Buzz' about Dolphins pursuing J.C. Jackson is just dreaming ... right?