We were very close to not having to write this Stock Watch. In mid-March, free agent defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi signed a deal to join new head coach Matt Eberflus and new general manager Ryan Poles in Chicago. A failed physical led the Bears to call off the agreement, returning Ogunjobi to free agency. 
“As I said before, Larry Ogunjobi embodies everything we are looking for in a Bear,” Poles said in a statement. “He is a special person and player. During the league’s negotiating window earlier this week, we agreed to terms with him, subject to him passing a physical here. After a standard and thorough physical and medical review with Larry yesterday afternoon, our medical team deemed him to have failed his physical and, therefore, unfortunately, we are not signing him today. This is difficult and it is emotional for everyone involved, but ultimately is what is in the best interest of protecting the Chicago Bears.”
Ogunjobi’s second free agent deal was set to earn $40.5MM over three years. He would have been entitled to a guaranteed $26.35MM at signing. Compared to his one-year, $6.2MM deal with Cincinnati last year, Ogunjobi was set for a substantial raise. Now, the 28-year-old is back on the market, searching for his next home.
Ogunjobi was a third-round pick out of Charlotte in 2017, getting drafted by the Browns. As a rookie, Ogunjobi was a rotational player. He played in 14 games, earning one start. Ogunjobi recorded 32 tackles, 1.0 sack, and 4.0 tackles for loss as a rookie.
He was named a starter on the line in his sophomore season and held down the job for the rest of his rookie deal, only missing two regular season games over his three years as a Browns’ starter. His second and third seasons were nearly identical. In each year, he recorded 5.5 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss. His stats dropped a little bit during his last year in Cleveland, but over his last three seasons with the Browns, he totaled 148 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and 25.0 tackles for loss.
Ogunjobi signed with the Bengals last offseason on the one-year deal mentioned above. Ogunjobi got back to his normal ways with his best season to date. He recorded 49 tackles, but added 7.0 sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss. Ogunjobi set himself up to be a premier, young pass-rushing defensive tackle.
Unfortunately, Ogunjobi was injured during the Bengals’ Wildcard victory over the Raiders. The foot injury would require surgery, ending Ogunjobi’s season with the Bengals. It was reported shortly after his contract with the Bears was cancelled that the failed physical stemmed from that injured foot. Poles offered that the failed deal would have prevented them from adding other free agents during the legal tampering period, as well, so the failed physical became a non-starter.
Regardless, the Bears set a clear market for the defensive tackle heading into his sixth NFL season. A three-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $13.5MM is a nod to the accomplishments of Ogunjobi’s young career, but maybe includes a knock for injury. The deal would have given him the tenth-highest AAV in the league. Besides outliers like three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, who is on a six-year deal, and expert run-stopper Brandon Williams, who just finished a five-year deal with the Ravens, most of the top defensive tackles in the league are signing three- to four-year deals.
Who lands Ogunjobi, then? Atlanta could certainly use a playmaker in the middle of the defensive line. Many thought they would make a move for UConn’s Travis Jones, who ended up going to Baltimore in the 2022 NFL Draft. Giving Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees Ogunjobi to pair with Grady Jarrett could do wonders for that defense. Similarly, the Saints would be more than happy to put Ogunjobi alongside David Onyemata. Shy Tuttle is currently set to start next to Onyemata, and Ogunjobi would be a big upgrade in production.
Ogunjobi visited the Jets in early May, but no deal was reached. You probably can’t rule out the Bears, though. Despite the unfortunate outcome, there was enough of a connection that the two reached a deal initially. The Bears did sign Justin Jones to fill their tackle role, but if Ogunjobi is able to pass a physical with the team, he would represent a substantial upgrade over Jones.
Whoever does decide to reach a deal with Ogunjobi, a similar contract to the Bears’ offer should be expected. Ogunjobi should expect a three- or four-year contract from $12MM-$15MM per year. The once-failed physical may take a chunk out of his guaranteed money, but Ogunjobi should still be looking forward to a big payday once he signs the dotted line.
Good player and teammate. The contract Bears gave him was significantly higher than anyone in Cincy expected him to command. Which hey, great for him. The failed physical is interesting. Both parties knew he was coming back from an injury. Wish someone was able to do a little digging and find out what actually happened. Did he have a setback and try to cover it up? Did the Bears get him in the building and have buyers remorse? Too bad journalism is dead. As that info used to be the reason an article like this was written.
I don’t think that there’s any reason to criticize the article in the slightest. Ely did a great job and obviously spent time getting it together.
The problem with Ogunjobi is that, while definitely valuable, he has benefitted immensely from good teammates providing pressure alongside him. Teams have double Garrett, Hendrickson, and others at various times, plus their other teammates at both stops which have freed up linemen in the interior. Ogunjobi has enough talent to take advantage of those matchups, and had a great year production-wise last year to show for it.
Thing is, he wasn’t creating those mismatches on his own. He can contribute, certainly, but I don’t think that he’ll be worth a top end deal on his own without talented teammates to help. That’s why I think that he fits best in the four man fronts that he’s been playing in, so a team like Chicago would have been a decent possibility if their ends can get pressure.
Alot of the Bengals’ success last year was due to the change in attitude on the defense. Guys flew to the ball and played through the whistle.
From Day 1, it seemed like Ogunjobi was one of the guys responsible for the change. If he’s forced on to a “prove it” contract for 2022, another Cincinnati is as good a spot as any.
We’ll see.
I can certainly agree with that.
The Bears now have 20 million in cap space and although he won’t get the 13 million he would of gotten if healthy, At this point the Bears can give him a decent 1 year slice and then if healthy, Next year they have all kinds of Cap space to give him a better deal. They can let his foot heal up at his own pace because they aren’t contending this year anyway.
Ogunjobi would definitely be an upgrade over Rankins, but I don’t see the Jets committing that much cash over three seasons to him. If the Jets sign just one of the two free agents to which they’ve been connected, I think Kwon Alexander is the better bet.
Going back to Cincy, Cincy, styling profiling … going back to Cincy …
LL Cool J
I don’t think so.
1 year $6 million
Feel bad for him regarding the deal he had with Bears falling through. He may now need to do another one year and prove it again vs signing a long term deal… On a one year deal he should have many interested teams and receive a solid AAV…