Ogbah (As Expected) Becomes First Cap Casualty of 2024

The Miami Dolphins released Emmanuel Ogbah after four seasons with the team

The Miami Dolphins have made their first significant move of the offseason to get under the salary cap, and it was the one everyone knew was coming.

The Dolphins are releasing veteran defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, as confirmed by a league source.

The move was considered a borderline slam dunk heading into the offseason because Ogbah's contract didn't have any guaranteed money left and the Dolphins will save $13.7 million of cap space with $4 million of dead money as the result of what's left of his signing bonus.

Ogbah signed a four-year, $65 million contract on the first day of free agency in 2022 that included $32 million guaranteed at signing.

Ogbah initially joined the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent in the spring of 2020 when he came over from the Kansas City Chiefs and signed a two-year deal.

OGBAH'S DIMINISHING RETURNS

The 2022 deal was a reward for Ogbah's great performance after he signed for two years and $15 million and produced nine sacks in each of his first two seasons with the Dolphins.

But Ogbah's fortunes started going south in 2022 when he got off to a slow start and then sustained a season-ending triceps injury in an October game against the Minnesota Vkkings.

Ogbah came back this season but never fit into the plans of new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

Despite finishing with 5.5 sacks, Ogbah became an afterthought on defense, playing a career-low 246 defensive snaps in 15 games.

By being released at this time, Ogbah is free to sign with any team at any time and doesn't have to wait until March 13 like unrestricted free agents (players whose contracts simply have expired).

Given his pass-rushing ability, Ogbah could help a team with the right fit and one immediately should wonder about a reunion with Brian Flores with the Minnesota Vikings after Flores' defensive scheme really took advantage of Ogbah's skill set.