On the surface it made more sense for Emmanuel Ogbah to return to the team he's called home for the last four NFL seasons. But for a hot second, a return to Kansas City could have been in the cards before he officially re-signed with Miami earlier this week.
Last February, the Dolphins released Ogbah after four seasons with the team—a stretch that featured 24.5 sacks from the veteran pass rusher. Instead of finding a quick home before free agency even began, Ogbah has waited out the spring and summer before finding a new home for the '24 campaign. Whether or not that was his prerogative is unknown but what matters now is that he's unavailable in free agency for another team to sign him.
It's too late at this point, but the Kansas City Chiefs reportedly showcased an interest in Manny Ogbah.
According to NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe, the Chiefs were such a team with genuine interest in bringing back Ogbah for a second stint with the team following his lone season in K.C. in 2019. That year, Ogbah put up a solid 5.5 sacks as a spot starter and rotational player in the first 9 weeks of the season before a torn pectoral muscle robbed him of the rest of that championship campaign.
The Chiefs lost Ogbah to the Dolphins in free agency the following year and he rewarded their faith in him with consecutive 9-sack seasons in Miami. From there, however, a triceps injury ruined his '22 season and he came back last year on a one-year deal in a rotational role.
The Dolphins released Ogbah back in February, but the sudden retirement of Shaq Griffin opened the door for a new veteran to enter. Yannick Ngakoue and Ogbah both tried out for Miami once again and Ogbah officially re-signed with the Fins.
As for the Chiefs, the interest in Ogbah shows that they're at least open to making a move for the right player at defensive end. The team still has young prospects like Felix Anudike-Uzomah and B.J. Thompson, but perhaps the Chiefs want some more security behind Mike Danna and George Karlaftis up front with Charles Omenihu on the mend.