Miami Dolphins sign Ogbah to beef up the defensive line a day before training camp’s start
Who says a NFL player can’t come home?
Emmanuel Ogbah’s offseason journey proved that they can because the defensive end, who fell out of favor with former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, re-signed with the Miami Dolphins a day before the start of training camp’s first practice on Wednesday.
According to ESPN, Ogbah agreed to a one-year deal that could be worth as much as $5 million if incentives are reached. At this time, what those incentives are haven’t been clarified.
Ogbah, who worked out for the team Monday, along with Yannick Ngakoue, was added to address the surprising retirement of Shaquil Barrett, who announced on Sunday he was ended his NFL career to spend time with his family.
Ogbah had previous started 27 games for the Dolphins the past four seasons, but he was released by Miami in February to clear $13.7 million in cap space. Ogbah wasn’t picked up as a free agent this offseason for unknown reasons.
Last season Ogbah produced 5.5 sacks, forced one fumble and pulled down one interception, along with making 21 tackles while playing just 25 percent of the Dolphins’ defensive snaps in 2023.
“I’m excited because Ogbah’s a great guy. It’s really cool to get him back here,” said defensive lineman Zach Sieler. “He’s a competitor.
“I hope he can find his way in this system. I know he will because he can find his way in every system. He’s a great player, competitive. I’m excited to have him back and work with him again.”
Fangio didn’t respect Ogbah as an edge player in his scheme because of the 6-foot-4, 275 pounder’s struggles dropping into coverage. And Fangio, who left Miami to become the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive coordinator, didn’t have much use for five-technique defensive ends, which is the role the eight-year veteran has played for most of his NFL career.
Ogbah, who is 30, should be a better fit in new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s system because his 3-4 front needs stout five-technique players to set the edge.
That means Ogbah could be in contention to fill a starting role for the Dolphins again. His main competition for playing time will be veterans Calais Campbell, Neville Gallimore, Da’Shawn Hand and Jonathan Harris, unless the Dolphins prefer to use Ogbah as an outside linebacker.
The Dolphins remain relatively thin at outside linebacker because of Barrett’s retirement, and the Miami’s decision to have Jaelan Phillips (Achilles), Bradley Chubb (ACL) and Cameron Goode (Patella tendon) begin training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara, the team’s two draftees, are viewed as front-runners to fill the starting role edge roles until Phillips, Chubb and Goode are cleared to practice and play, which might be sometime in September or October based on their injuries requiring nine-to12-month rehabilitation timetables. Cam Brown and Quinton Bell are their only competition at this moment, but the Dolphins might also add Ngakoue, or another edge rusher, later on during training camp.
Ogbah played 77 and 67 percent of Miami’s defensive snaps in 2020 and 2021 as a five-technique end, and was a key rotation player as a defensive end in 2022 before sustaining a season-ending biceps injury in Week 9.
This story was originally published July 23, 2024 at 9:15 AM.
