Much of the hype surrounding the Miami Dolphins’ offseason has been centered around the improvements made to the offense, but nearly as important was the way the team maintained continuity on its defense.
Cornerback Xavien Howard got the lucrative contract extension he was seeking, and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, minutes before free agency negotiations were set to begin on March 14, reached an agreement to stay with the Dolphins before other teams could make their offers.
“I was glad we took care of our own,” Ogbah said Wednesday as both he and Howard spoke publicly for the first time since signing their deals.
Howard and the Dolphins came a long way from his displeasure with his contract last offseason that even reached the level of him requesting a trade in training camp ahead of the 2021 season. Now, after earning $50,691,177 in new money as part of a restructure agreed to on Friday night, the three-time Pro Bowl and one-time All-Pro selection has his long-term goals occurring in Miami.
“I’m just excited to be a Dolphin, continue to play here, hopefully retire here and win a Super Bowl here, too,” said Howard, who also cited the Hall of Fame as an aspiration after starting his career with 27 interceptions in his first six NFL seasons.
Howard’s extension puts him under contract with the Dolphins through 2026, with a potential out in 2024. Over the next two seasons, Howard will earn more than any other cornerback in the NFL.
“They did everything we asked, and both sides were happy with everything that panned out,” he said.
Ogbah signed a four-year, $65 million deal when he was on the verge of hitting the open market.
“I’ve always looked at myself as being here long-term. I’m glad we made it happen,” Ogbah said. “I wouldn’t say I thought it was doubtful [a deal would get done]. I felt like we had a chance to make something work. For them to come like that, it showed they believed in me and wanted me here.”
With Howard as the ballhawk cornerback known to force turnovers in the secondary and Ogbah as the all-around defensive end that has posted nine sacks each of his two seasons in Miami while also batting passes at the line of scrimmage at a high rate, two cornerstones to the Dolphins’ defensive success the second half of the 2021 season remain in place.
They can complement each other with pass rush inducing interceptions and strong coverage leading to sacks.
“It goes hand in hand,” Ogbah said. “I know, if I don’t get there fast enough, X is going to be back there waiting for the ball to come out. The faster I get back there, the faster I put stress on the quarterback, so it gives X a chance to get that pick.”
They also have top-notch competition to go up against in practice now. Howard can sharpen his coverage skills lining up against speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and Ogbah can go at it against left tackle Terron Armstead. Hill and Armstead were the two prized outside acquisitions for Miami, coming in from the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints, respectively.
“I just told [coach] Mike McDaniel, ‘I got to get my [hamstrings] right. We got a lot of speed over there,’ ” Howard said. “I’m excited about everything that’s going on in the building.”
Said Ogbah of the addition of Armstead: “That force on the offense, that dog, we needed that, and I’m glad he’s part of the team now.”
Howard didn’t want to dive into the then and now of last offseason’s contract renegotiation struggles with the team, which escalated to the point of a training camp trade request before the Dolphins met his concerns for the 2021 season, pushing the original issue into this offseason. But he has put it to bed.
“We got it done, so I’m here,” Howard said, as the new deal fulfills his long-term wishes. “That’s the only thing that really matters to me.”
And with that settled, he now merely wants to get back to playing football the only place he’s called home since getting drafted out of Baylor in 2016, doing what he’s done to create 17 takeaways — 15 interceptions and two fumble recoveries — over the past two seasons, scoring two touchdowns in the process.
“Let’s get back to work,” he said. “To get the ball. It’s what I been doing since I’ve been here, so I wouldn’t say nothing different. Continue being a leader in the locker room, help younger guys out, help new guys that are coming to the Miami Dolphins. Just continue attacking the ball and making turnovers.”
The two sensed a renewed energy at Dolphins facilities since the team reconvened for the start of its offseason workout program on Monday.
“I feel like everything’s been different since I got [back],” Howard said. “The energy, everybody happy. I feel like a lot of things are going to be special here with Mike McDaniel. He’s bringing that energy, and hopefully get the offensive part to the standard that we expect from both sides of the ball.”
“It’s more fun. Everybody’s just excited to be back,” added Ogbah, who also enjoyed his early impressions of McDaniel. “I didn’t know a lot about him, but he’s definitely unique, a good players’ coach. He knows, he understands the game. He’s very smart. He knows what he wants to do with the offense.”
()