Things have gotten dicey for the Miami Dolphins defense within this past week. Not only did pass rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips get placed on the physically unable to perform list to open training camp but now a bona fide presence in the trenches is leaving the team.
Former Pro Bowler Shaquil Barrett announced his retirement from the NFL on social media Saturday. The two-time Super Bowl champion signed with Miami months earlier at the start of free agency. Now, the would-be renowned leader for the Dolphins’ defense leaves Miami in a tight window to find defensive help on the line less than a week before camp.
Dolphins Host Two Top Free Agents in Light of Barrett Retirement
The Names We Know
With little time to waste, the Dolphins hosted a workout for defensive end free agents Yannick Ngakoue and Emmanuel Ogbah on Monday, according to Miami Herald staff writer Barry Jackson. Each player is well experienced in the NFL with eight years in the league. Considered to be the two best free agent options at the position, they’re the only two confirmed names that we know scheduled to work out with Miami.
Other potential free-agent candidates include Carl Lawson, Charles Harris, and Mike Purcell. Nothing has been reported yet if these defensive ends have been contacted for a workout, but they’re available if the Dolphins decide to move on from Ngakoue and Ogbah.
Ogbah Would Be the Reasonable Choice
Ogbah, 30, spent the last four seasons as the starting defensive end on the right side of the line. The former Dolphins’ role, however, deteriorated under former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in 2023. Ogbah went from a usual starter to only starting one game through 15 appearances last season. He finished with 20 total tackles and 5.5 quarterback sacks — a tied career-high.
Multiple teams throughout free agency have shown “significant interest” in Ogbah, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus. The eight-year veteran pass rusher is looking to get back to a 4-3 scheme. Under new Miami defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Ogbah might be able to do so under new defensive management.
Ogbah signed a four-year, $65 million deal with Miami in 2022, but was cut earlier this year. The move saved the Dolphins $13.7 million in cap space with the defensive end having no guaranteed money left on his current contract. With the need for an immediate pass rusher before camp, Ogbah can revisit this contract with Miami and potentially work on a better long-term deal.
The Case for Ngakoue
Ngakoue for the past five seasons has been the definition of a journeyman. The eight-year NFL defensive end played for the Chicago Bears, his sixth team, last season. Ngakoue tallied 22 total tackles and four sacks through 13 appearances. Chicago didn’t re-sign the pass rusher at the conclusion of his one-year deal.
The pass rusher’s resume is an impressive one. Ngakoue has 69 career sacks, including two double-digit sack seasons, and has been a part of deep playoff campaigns. A 2016 NFL Draft third-round selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars, was a part of the ‘Sacksonville’ team that faced the New England Patriots in the 2018 AFC Championship game. Since then, he’s been a victim of multiple trades and hasn’t signed a long-term deal with a team since his rookie contract.
If he was to be signed by the Dolphins, Ngakoue could potentially find a home and playing time with Chubb and Phillips sidelined. The duo is expected to be healthy for the start of the regular season, but Ngakoue can slide into a third-string role at defensive end on this current roster.
Main Image: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
