Emmanuel Ogbah - Pro Football Rumors

Dolphins Use Franchise Tag On Mike Gesicki

March 8th, 2022 at 9:07am CST by Adam La Rose

Another tight end has been named his team’s franchise player. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Dolphins are tagging Mike Gesicki.

The 26-year-old was considered one of this year’s top candidates for the tag, given the increasing role he has taken on within the Dolphins’ offense over his career. In the past three seasons, he has totalled 177 catches, 2,053 yards and 13 touchdowns. He would have been one of the most sought-after TEs on the open market.

The tag value for tight ends is set at $10.93MM, though that positional label could be problematic in Gesicki’s case. Rarely used as an in-line blocker, the former second rounder primarily lines up in the slot to maximize his skillset. As a result, the possibility exists for him to file a grievance to be listed as a receiver, an issue some had thought to be likely in the weeks leading up to today’s tag deadline. A compromise paying Gesicki somewhere in between the TE and WR values (the latter being $18.42MM) is also an option.

With that said, the tag is widely seen as a placeholder for a long-term extension. If the two sides can agree on a new pact, the issue of tag value would become moot. Meanwhile, this news points further to the Dolphins’ other big-name free agent, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, hitting the open market. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, recently indicated he is preparing for free agency, though remaining in Miami is on the table (video link). The 28-year-old had 41 tackles and nine sacks in 2021. At a minimum, though, the Dolphins have secured one of their key offensive players for the immediate future.

Dolphins GM Talks Watson, Payton/Brady Rumors, Howard

March 3rd, 2022 at 5:05pm CST by Ben Levine

THURSDAY: Set to pursue a media gig, Payton indicated to veteran NFL reporter Jason Cole (via Twitter) he would “probably not” have been interested in this Dolphins setup had he been given the chance to speak with the team. Once Payton lands with a network, the subject of his next coaching stop figures to come up fairly frequently.

WEDNESDAY: It’s already been a busy offseason for the Dolphins. The team hired a new head coach in Mike McDaniel, dealt with the fallout of former HC Brian Flores‘ lawsuit, and brushed off continued rumors regarding their quarterback position.

While speaking with reporters today, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier addressed many of the major story lines surrounding the organization. Most notably, the GM acknowledged that “the door is shut” on acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Texans. The organization has been continually connected to Watson over the past year, but the team’s decision makers seem focused on moving forward with Tua Tagovailoa.

Grier also addressed a recent report that indicated the organization pursued Sean Payton as their head coach and Tom Brady as their starting quarterback. While the GM discussed the team’s brief pursuit of the coach (which we detail below), he said the Dolphins “never had a conversation” with the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

The Dolphins general manager provided a handful of additional thoughts on the state of the Dolphins, which we’ve compiled below (h/t to Cameron Wolfe of NFL.com):

More on the Dolphins’ commitment to Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback:

“Mike and the staff have come in to do a lot of work, studied a lot of Tua and they feel good about his developmental upside, what he can be and then the fit in the offense. I think we’re good with Tua.”

On the Dolphins pursuit of Payton:

“[We called the Saints] to see if he is done with football or does he want to coach. … They told us no, they weren’t going to grant permission. So that was it.

“We stopped to see if he would have interest at all. So, I don’t even know if he would have interest.”

On cornerback Xavien Howard, who is seeking a new contract following back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons:

“My anticipation is that Xavien will be here next year. We made the promise to him — after the season, we’ll make the adjustment … just to be truthful with him and do it, that’s the right thing to do.”

On impending free agents Mike Gesicki and Emmanuel Ogbah:

“Mike knows how I feel about him. I drafted him and have had separate conversations with Mike. We’ve had limited talks with his agents.”

“As it got to the end of the season with free agency, both of those guys get to this point, they want to be able to see what their options are. They both told us they want to be back in Miami. They both love it here, they want to be back. We’ll see what happens.”

On Flores’ class-action lawsuit against the NFL and three teams (including the Dolphins):

“(At) some point when it’s done [i can discuss], maybe in the future, but I can’t comment on this right now.

Dolphins’ Emmanuel Ogbah To Report To Camp

June 15th, 2021 at 8:56am CST by Zachary Links

Emmanuel Ogbah kept his distance during the voluntary period, but he’ll be on hand for the Dolphins’ mandatory minicamp. Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed his clients plans this week (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald), but also noted the edge rusher’s standing desire for a new deal.

“We would like to get an extension done,” Rosenhaus said. “We’ve approached the Dolphins about that. That’s as much as I can say.”

Ogbah joined the Dolphins on a two-year deal, $15MM deal last year with $7.5MM fully guaranteed. At the time, it was a player-friendly deal — Ogbah lost much of his 2019 season to a torn pectoral muscle. But, based on the strength of his partial season and 5.5 sacks, the Dolphins rolled the dice.

So far, that deal has paid off in a major way. In 2020, the defensive end notched 42 stops, nine sacks, 21 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Naturally, Ogbah wants a new contract to reflect his performance, especially after Rosenhaus just scored a three-year, $39MM re-up for linebacker Jerome Baker.

AFC East Notes: Lawson, Dolphins, Jets

March 28th, 2020 at 3:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite Shaq Lawson being in trade rumors for much of his tenure with the Bills, the current regime was interested in bringing him back. However, it does not appear Buffalo’s interest in retaining the former Doug Whaley first-round pick was extensive. The Bills were open to re-signing Lawson, but Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic notes such interest was contingent on Lawson returning at a certain price (subscription required). But once the Dolphins guaranteed two years of Lawson’s $10MM-AAV contract, the Bills let him walk. Buffalo signed both Mario Addison and versatile D-lineman Quinton Jefferson to cover for Lawson’s exit.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

Shifting to Lawson’s new team, the Dolphins received good news on the health statuses of two of their recent free agent additions. Emmanuel Ogbah said he has been cleared for football work for around a month but has yet to partake in workouts because of COVID-19 concerns, Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com tweets. Ogbah will receive a Chiefs Super Bowl ring, but the defensive end’s contributions ended midseason because of a torn pectoral muscle.
Jordan Howard also will be full-go when the Dolphins reconvene, Wolfe adds. After a strong start to his Eagles season, Howard suffered a shoulder injury that derailed his momentum. He played in just one game after Week 9 but did not log any carries. Howard was inactive for Philadelphia’s playoff game. The Dolphins gave him a two-year, $9.75MM contract.
Sam Martin ended up signing with the Broncos, but the Jets were interested in adding the former Lions punter, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News notes. The Broncos gave Martin a three-year, $7.05MM deal; Mehta adds the Jets were not budgeting that much for their punter position. Martin’s $2.35MM salary ranks 15th among punters. The Jets have opted not to re-sign incumbent punter Lac Edwards, their four-year punter, and Mehta adds they have remained in contact with former Dolphins and Bills punter Matt Darr. Ian Berryman, a 2019 Steelers UDFA, is the only punter on the Jets’ roster. The team remains interested in another addition here. Bringing considerable punter news to the table, Mehta adds that the Jets are doing their homework on Texas A&M’s Braden Mann — the 2018 Ray Guy award winner.
While things could certainly change in the coming months, the Patriots appear set to make Jarrett Stidham the favorite to be their first non-Tom Brady Week 1 starter since 2001.

Dolphins To Sign Emmanuel Ogbah

March 17th, 2020 at 9:51am CST by Zachary Links

Emmanuel Ogbah has agreed to terms with the Dolphins on a two-year deal, as ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. The defensive end will earn $15MM on the contract, with $7.5MM of it fully guaranteed.

Ogbah was shipped from the Browns to the Chiefs in April of last year, thanks in part to brokering by agent Drew Rosenhaus. Unfortunately, his season was halted midway when he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in November.

Ogbah had 5.5 sacks on the year before going down, leading the team at the time of his injury. Now, the former second-round pick is taking his talents to South Beach.

The Dolphins have been busy this week. Yesterday, they inked former Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy (which came with the bonus of taking him away from the rival Jets). They also fortified their secondary by agreeing to terms with former Cowboys corner Byron Jones.

Chiefs Place DE Emmanuel Ogbah On IR

November 18th, 2019 at 2:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Emmanuel Ogbah‘s contract year will conclude with an IR trip. A week after the fourth-year defensive end suffered a torn pectoral muscle, the Chiefs placed him on IR.

Kansas City promoted wide receiver Gehrig Dieter from its practice squad to take Ogbah’s roster spot. Dieter played in four games with the Chiefs last season.

The Chiefs acquired Ogbah in an offseason trade with the Browns. The former second-round pick recorded five sacks in 10 games, doing so despite mostly coming off the bench behind Frank Clark and Alex Okafor. Ogbah is due for unrestricted free agency in 2020, having registered 18 sacks in his career.

With Clark dealing with a pinched nerve and Okafor out, the Chiefs are suddenly limited at defensive end. Breeland Speaks, a 2018 second-round pick, is also on IR. This would stand to elevate 2017 second-rounder Tanoh Kpassagnon into the Chiefs’ starting lineup for Monday night’s game against the Chargers in Mexico City.

Chiefs’ Emmanuel Ogbah Has Torn Pec

November 10th, 2019 at 6:12pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Chiefs are suddenly struggling, and they suffered a huge injury during their loss to the Titans on Sunday. Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah tore his pec, head coach Andy Reid announced after the game.

He will almost certainly miss the rest of the season. Ogbah had been playing a huge role and was playing well, so this is a big loss. Ogbah had 5.5 sacks on the year before going down, which was easily the most on the team. A second-round pick of the Browns back in 2016, he was shipped from Cleveland to Kansas City in April. Fellow pass-rusher Frank Clark said after the game that he has been dealing with a pinched nerve in his neck which slowed him down.

Clark was questionable for the game, and the Chiefs’ defensive front is now pretty banged up. Ogbah is in a contract year and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so the injury is especially brutal. Fortunately for him he likely showed enough through ten games to earn a relatively large payday in free agency.

Kansas City also had a couple of offensive line injuries during the game, and we’re awaiting updates on those. The Chiefs have lost four of their last six games, and are now only a half-game ahead of the Raiders for first place in the AFC West. Ogbah will be sorely missed during their divisional showdown against the Chargers next week on Monday Night Football in Mexico City.

Browns Trade Emmanuel Ogbah To Chiefs

April 1st, 2019 at 3:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Emmanuel Ogbah stayed away from the Browns’ voluntary workout on Monday with the expectation that he would be traded in the near future. As it turns out, the near future arrived in a matter of hours. The Browns have traded the defensive end to the Chiefs in exchange for safety Eric Murray, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

After a foot injury ended his 2017 season, Ogbah suffered an ankle malady early in 2018. The former second-round bounced back, however, and delivered three sacks in 14 games (all starts).Ogbah has 12.5 career sacks to his credit and will have an opportunity to make an impact in KC.

There was no room for Ogbah in Cleveland with Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon as the starting bookends and Chad Thomas, Chris Smith, and Anthony Zettel supporting the high-profile duo. He follows wide receiver Ricardo Louis and safety Derrick Kindred, other relics of the Sashi Brown era, out the door.

In the swap, the Chiefs and Browns each traded from a surplus to fill a weakness. The Browns were able to part with a DE after adding Vernon and the Chiefs have extra ammo at safety thanks to the addition of Tyrann Mathieu. Even without Eric Berry, the Chiefs were able to part with a supporting safety, enabling them to bolster a pass rush that no longer features Dee Ford or Justin Houston.

Murray, 25, made a career-high nine starts last season as he logged 55 tackles and two pass deflections. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 50 ranked safety in the NFL out of 93 eligible players, positioning him as a starting-caliber player.

Browns Likely To Trade Emmanuel Ogbah

April 1st, 2019 at 9:24am CST by Zachary Links

Emmanuel Ogbah did not report to the Browns offseason program today in anticipation of being traded in the near future, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The Browns have been shopping the defensive end and it sounds like a deal could be just around the corner.

After a foot injury ended his 2017 season, Ogbah suffered an ankle malady early in 2018. The former second-round pick shook that off, however, and delivered three sacks in 14 games (all starts).Ogbah has 12.5 career sacks and may be an option as a complementary pass rusher or depth piece elsewhere, though it will depend on what the Browns will deem an acceptable return.

There’s no room for Ogbah in Cleveland with Myles Garrett and Olivier Vernon as the starting bookends and Chad Thomas, Chris Smith and Anthony Zettel supporting the high-profile duo. He appears set to follow wide receiver Ricardo Louis, another relic of the Sashi Brown era, out the door.

Extra Points: McDowell, Broncos, Browns

March 25th, 2019 at 2:59pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Malik McDowell is still looking to play football again. The talented defensive lineman was taken by the Seahawks in the second round of the 2017 draft, but has never played a down in the NFL. An ATV accident before his rookie year resulted in serious injuries that up until this point have prevented him from playing. The Seahawks finally decided to move on and waived him earlier this month after he couldn’t gain clearance. He still wants to play however, and recently met with the Cowboys.

McDowell’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, revealed today that McDowell had been cleared to play again by independent doctors (Twitter link via Calvin Watkins of The Athletic). However, the Cowboys’ team doctors have been unable to clear him yet. Clarence Hill Jr. of the Forth Worth Star-Telegram tweeted that Rosenhaus also said the Cowboys remain interested his client, but it sounds like there’s still a big medical hurdle to clear. It seems Dallas’ interest is legitimate, and if their doctors are able to clear him there’s a very good chance he’d sign. He was the 35th overall pick out of Michigan State for a reason, so if he’s ever able to get back on the field it could prove to be a great pickup.

Here’s more from around the league:

Center Matt Paradis left the Broncos this offseason, and signed a big deal with the Panthers. We heard shortly before he signed with Carolina that Denver was working to re-sign him, but that apparently wasn’t a realistic effort. The Broncos essentially lowballed Paradis, offering him a one-year “look-see” deal that they knew he wouldn’t accept, according to Mike Klis of Denver 9News. Despite the reported effort, it sounds like the Broncos never truly intended to retain Paradis, who got three years and $27MM from the Panthers.
Speaking of the Broncos, their ownership dispute could be inching toward a resolution. Brittany Bowlen, one of the daughters of owner Pat Bowlen vying to take over the team, will soon start a job in Denver’s front office, Broncos CEO Joe Ellis told Klis (Twitter link). There’s been a drawn out dramatic dispute playing out between members of the Bowlen family for a while now, and Brittany is believed to be the favorite of Broncos and league brass. Klis calls it a “potential huge step” toward her one day taking over the team.
We heard a couple of weeks ago that the Browns were shopping Emmanuel Ogbah, and that’s apparently still the case. Ogbah is still being shopped, a source told Tony Grossi of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Additionally, Grossi reports that “there’s a lot of interest” in the defensive end. Ogbah is still only 25 and on his rookie deal, so it makes sense that there’s legit interest. With Olivier Vernon now in the fold opposite Myles Garrett, the Browns don’t have much of a need for Ogbah.