The Miami Dolphins have re-signed free-agent pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah, per multiple outlets. He is reportedly signing a one-year deal worth up to $5 million to remain with the Fins.
Ogbah has been a member of the Dolphins for the past four seasons, but he was released in February in a budgetary move that saved the franchise $13.7 million against the salary cap.
Ogbah, 30, has been one of the veteran leaders on the Dolphins’ defense, a group that racked up 56 sacks in 2023. He will be counted on to spearhead the pass rush, as Miami looks to be a force in the AFC East division in 2024.
Keeping His Talents In South Beach
Free-agent pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah, who spent the past four seasons with Miami, is signing a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with the Dolphins. The deal was negotiated by Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha. pic.twitter.com/on6IQ75LWQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 23, 2024
Ogbah was originally drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. After three seasons playing for the Dawgs, he moved on to Kansas City and was part of the Chiefs squad that won Super Bowl LIV. However, he didn’t play in The Big Game, as he suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in week 10 of the NFL season.
He joined the Dolphins in 2020 as a free agent and recorded nine sacks in his first two seasons with Miami. Throughout his four seasons with the team, he started 27 of his 57 games played. Used as a situational pass rusher, he registered 114 tackles, 24.5 sacks, and two recovered fumbles.
The 6’4″, 257-pound EDGE rusher was born in Nigeria, but his family migrated to the United States when he was nine years old. He would go on to star for Oklahoma State University, eventually being named Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2014 after racking up 49 tackles and 11 sacks that season.
Despite making three stops in less than a decade in the NFL, Ogbah is considered a solid contributor and steady leader on the defensive side of the ball. He will provide a proven, veteran presence that Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel can rely on in 2024.
Emmanuel Ogbah Brings Stability
The one-year deal makes sense for the Dolphins in many ways. Miami was throttled with injuries at the edge positions last season. Defenders Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and Cameron Goode will all start training camp on the PUP list.
On top of that, the team lost two-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowler Shaq Barrett to retirement during the offseason. The Dolphins signed him away from Tampa Bay in March. He would eventually announce his retirement from the NFL in July.
However, with Ogbah back in the fold, Miami has a veteran rusher who already knows their philosophy and playbook. He adds depth in an area where the team so desperately needs it, and his ability to help out on the run makes him a versatile two-way player.
On top of all that, he really seems at home in Miami and being a member of the Dolphins.
“It’s beautiful here,” Ogbah said in a 2020 interview about living and playing in South Florida. “The weather. It’s never cold. There’s usually a nice breeze. The beach. This is like my second home because I train out here every offseason. I love it here.”
“The coaches trust me and I trust them. They let me do my thing and believe in me, so I’m just excited they gave me the opportunity.”
Emmanuel Ogbah and the Dolphins (11-6 in 2023) will kick off this year’s schedule at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8).
For More Great Content
Ryan K Boman is the author of the 2023 book, Pop Music & Peanut Butter: A Collection of Essays about Embracing Life with Laughter & Love. His previous work has appeared in The Miami Herald, SB Nation, Bounding into Sports, and Yardbarker. Follow him on social media @RyanKBoman.
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
