Emmanuel Ogbah’s agent expects him to be with Dolphins in 2023. And free agency updates
Despite speculation about a potential offseason move, Emmanuel Ogbah’s agent Drew Rosenahus expects the veteran pass rusher to remain with the Dolphins in 2023.
“I do expect him to be back. In my discussions with the Dolphins, they’ve made it clear how much they like him,” Rosenhaus told WQAM’s “The Joe Rose Show.”
In the first season of a four-year, $65.4 million deal he signed last offseason, Ogbah struggled to replicate the production of the last two years when he led the Dolphins in sacks. Ogbah recorded one sack in nine games and then sustained a season-ending triceps injury in Week 10.
Ogbah said he was hoping to return if the Dolphins made a deep playoff run but should be ready to participate in organized team activities in the spring.
With the Dolphins $16 million over the cap, the front office will have to free space to make moves when free agency begins March 15. The entirety of Ogbah’s $15 million base salary is guaranteed, which would make trying to part ways difficult. Miami would take on a large dead money charge if it released Ogbah but would receive some relief in a trade.
Rosenhaus also gave updates on inside linebacker Elandon Roberts and defensive lineman Zach Sieler. He said there is “mutual interest” in a return for Roberts and that trying to reach an agreement on an extension for Sieler will be a “priority” for him.
Roberts, 29, is an impending unrestricted free agent after leading the Dolphins with a career-high 107 tackles in 2022. Last offseason, he resigned to Miami on a one-year, $2 million deal. He is one of three Dolphins inside linebackers slated to hit free agency, along with Duke Riley and Sam Eguavoen.
“I don’t have a prediction right now on that, other than there is mutual interest,” Rosenhaus said.
Sieler, 28, is entering the final season of a three-year, $8.575 extension he signed in 2020. Sieler recorded a career-high 70 tackles and 3.5 sacks as his playing time increased significantly after Ogbah’s season-ending injury. None of his $2.5 million base salary is guaranteed in 2023.
“We have really made that a priority in our discussions with the Dolphins,” Rosenhaus said. “It doesn’t take a cap expert to look at how valuable Zach is and he’s really outplayed his contract. ... That’ll be a project that we will be working very hard on this offseason. He’s an important part of the defense and certainly it would be important, I think, to the organization, obviously to Zach, that we get his contract in line with his play.”
