The Miami Dolphins might not be buyers this NFL trade deadline, but they certainly are not sellers.
Or are they? There are a number of players who could be moved if Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel think it can help the team acquire other players in a position of need.
Atop that list should be defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, who can barely see the field despite being paid as a top-10 defensive end.
The Case for Trading Miami Dolphins DE Emmanuel Ogbah
Before we get to the future, let’s revisit the past.
It was March 2022, and the Dolphins’ pass-rush depth was rough. Ogbah, who led the team in sacks from 2020-2021 with 18, was an unrestricted free agent.
Jaelan Phillips was coming off a strong rookie season, but he was the only other established edge defender under contract. (Andrew Van Ginkel had not yet become the player he is now.)
So the Dolphins decided to bring back Ogbah on a new four-year, $65.4 million contract, with $32 million guaranteed.
That day a year and a half ago was basically the last time any football fan outside of the Dolphins fan base has thought about Ogbah.
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In the 24 regular-season games since, Ogbah has recorded just 3.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hits.
Certainly, a significant injury in 2022 limited his production. But in 2023, he simply cannot get on the field. The Dolphins think the guys playing ahead of him are better.
Despite being available for every game this season, Ogbah is ninth among Dolphins front seven players in usage; he’s been on the field for just 25.8% of Miami’s defensive snaps.
Put another way, he’s one of the most expensive role players in football — and a luxury at a time when the Dolphins have some necessities due to injury.
“He’s had some production,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said on Oct. 12. “Missed an opportunity or two along there too. He just has to get better at some of the most fundamental things that you have to do early in a play, and that will help improve his game.”
How the Dolphins Could Move Ogbah
In a weird way, Ogbah is more tradeable now than he was two months ago. The Dolphins have already paid nearly half of his $15 million — fully guaranteed — 2023 base salary.
And if they’re willing to pay a little bit more, there’s no reason they can’t move him to a team in need of pass-rush help.
Let’s say they eat another $4 million of what they are obligated to pay him anyway.
That would leave the team that acquires him on the hook for roughly $4 million the rest of the way — which, when prorated, would put him outside of the top 25 at his position.
The Dolphins certainly shouldn’t give Ogbah away for nothing. He’s an injury or two away from playing meaningful snaps again.
But if they get a respectable draft pick in return — or, even better, a player at another position who would contribute in 2023 — they should try hard to make it happen.
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