Ogbah weighs in on new contract. And Dolphins schedule workouts with many familiar names
Emmanuel Ogbah got the dream combination: by far the richest contract of his life and the chance to stay in a place he didn’t want to leave.
Ogbah’s future with the Dolphins had been in doubt until the Dolphins raised their offer moments before the start of free agency, dangling a four-year, $65 million package with $32 million guaranteed.
“I’m very happy,” Ogbah said Wednesday in a news conference at team headquarters. “I felt we had a chance to make something work. I love the city of Miami and wanted to be here for my brothers. And it helped with the coaching staff [being] retained on the defensive side of the ball.”
On March 14, the first day of free agency, Ogbah planned to leave his home for a workout, but agent Drew Rosenhaus advised him to stay home.
“Drew said, ‘chill, I’m going to need you.’ I stayed in my living room, patiently waiting and Drew called me and gave me the details and [said], ‘What do you think?’ I hung up with Drew, called my mom and dad and said, ‘What do you think?’
They said ‘it’s [for] you [to decide]. I said, ‘I’m excited.’ I always wanted to here. It meant a lot to me and my family to sign back with the Dolphins.”
Since signing the contract, Ogbah purchased a house that’s “nice, real spacious. Christian Wilkins said I’m hosting the first D-line dinner.”
According to a league source, another team was prepared to give Ogbah similar money if the Dolphins hadn’t increased their offer just before the start of free agency.
Ogbah had nine sacks in each of the past two seasons and was the only player in the NFL last year to log at least 20 quarterback hits and 10 passes defended.
His 119 total pressures in the past two seasons are sixth most in the NFL behind only Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
In 2020, he started 12 games and recorded 42 tackles, nine sacks, six tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and five passes defended. Last season, he was even better, starting 11 games and recording 41 tackles, nine sacks, nine tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 12 passes defended
Ogbah addressed other issues:
▪ Of the ton of money spent by the Dolphins in free agency, he said: “I’m glad we took care of our own” and that Miami spent so much that it “felt” like there was no salary cap.
▪ He said he’s not sure how many defensive changes will result from Brian Flores’ dismissal. Defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, who was retained, “will have some new wrinkles to the system,” Ogbah said.
Of most of the defense being retained (except Vince Biegel and Justin Coleman), Ogbah said: “We did something special. There’s still a lot of work to be done. It helps because we all know each other’s games. You know what a guy can do next to you. It’s what can we do better.”
▪ He said he wants to improve on “taking on double teams, rushing the passer.”
▪ On the change from Flores to new coach Mike McDaniel in terms of how the locker room feels: “It’s different. A lot of guys are happy to be back. A lot of guys are happy to see each other again. It’s fun. The whole locker room wants to build off last season.”
On McDaniel, Ogbah said: “He’s definitely unique. A good player’s coach. He’s very smart.”
▪ Ogbah said new left tackle Terron Armstead will be a “force on the offense, that dog. We needed that.... [And] I played with Tyreek Hill in Kansas City.”
▪ Of closing the gap with Buffalo, Ogbah said: “We have to step up and do our best to help this team win games. We have to get the offense better. They have to get us better. With an opponent like the Bills, it will be a challenge but we should be able to get that done.” Buffalo has won seven in a row in the series.
PUNTER VISITS
▪ The Dolphins are bringing in veteran punter Thomas Morstead for a visit on Wednesday, a source confirmed. South Florida talk show host Andy Slater first reported the visit.
The 36-year-old was released by Saints last March after 12 seasons with New Orleans. He spent time with Jets and Falcons last season, earning NFC Special Teams Player of Weeks honors in Week 12 for Atlanta.
Morstead, a Pro Bowler in 2012, averaged 47.2 yards on 45 punts in 14 games last season, which ranked ninth in the league.
▪ Many of the University of Miami’s draft prospects will be at Dolphins headquarters Friday to work out for the Dolphins on their annual local day for prospects who attended high school or college in South Florida.
Several, but not all, of those prospects also were invited to a dinner with Dolphins brass on Thursday night, including general manager Chris Grier.
Among those expected at Friday’s workout: quarterback D’Eriq King, running back Cam’Ron Harris, defensive tackle Jon Ford and wide receiver Mike Harley Jr., among others.
Also expected to attend: FIU’s D’Vonte Price, who ran for 2,203 yards and averaged 6.0 per carry in five years with the Golden Panthers. He’s considered among the top 10 running backs in this draft.
“Height, weight, speed prospect with bell-cow size,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said. “Price needs it well-blocked and must play faster, but he has traits teams are willing to work with and develop.”
Also keep an eye on FAU corner Zyon Gilbert, who has five career interceptions. He was among those invited to the Friday workout and Thursday dinner with the Dolphins.
▪ One UM player not in attendance at the Dolphins local day: receiver Charleston Rambo, who met NFL rules to attend either the Dolphins’ local day or the Cowboys’ local day. He opted for the Cowboys, because he spent much of his life in Texas, having grown up in Cedar Hills, which is 17 miles from Dallas.
▪ Zach McCloud — who spent his UM career at linebacker before thriving as a defensive end as a senior — will be at Dolphins headquarters Thursday to meet with coaches and take a physical.
▪ After the DeVante Parker, the Dolphins’ only picks in this month’s draft are 102nd overall (a 49ers compensatory pick after the third round), 125th (a fourth-rounder) and two seventh-rounders: 224 and 247. But Miami has two first-rounders, a second-rounder and two third-rounders in the 2023 draft.
▪ Here’s one way of looking at Xavien Howard’s new five-year, $90 million deal: Under his contract in place until last Friday, he was due $39 million during the next three seasons. Now he’s due $55 million over the next three seasons.
Of the $90 million, $36.3 million is guaranteed, as Pro Football Talk first reported.
It’s a good deal for Howard and agent David Canter, who convinced the Dolphins to amend a deal with three years left - which is very unusual.
This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 1:04 PM.
