Inside The Vikings

Will Vikings Have Interest in Ex-Dolphins Xavien Howard, Emmanuel Ogbah?

Howard and Ogbah played under Brian Flores in Miami.
Will Ragatz|
Will Vikings Have Interest in Ex-Dolphins Xavien Howard, Emmanuel Ogbah?
Will Vikings Have Interest in Ex-Dolphins Xavien Howard, Emmanuel Ogbah?

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Minnesota Vikings

The Miami Dolphins officially released defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah on Friday, at the same time as news broke that they'll be releasing four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard at the start of the new league year next month (per Mike Garafolo). 

That feels like relevant news for the Vikings, who could use help at both edge rusher and corner this offseason — and who happen to have a defensive coordinator that used to be the head coach of those two players in Miami. Brian Flores overlapped with Howard from 2019-21 with the Dolphins and with Ogbah from 2020-21. Those were two of the team's best players during that time, so it wouldn't be shocking if Flores expressed interest to the Vikings' front office in a reunion with one or both of them.

Howard, a second-round pick in 2016, has spent the last eight seasons in Miami. He made four Pro Bowls in five years from 2018-22, highlighted by a 2020 season where he had ten interceptions, was named a first team All-Pro, and finished third in defensive player of the year voting. Howard has 31 interceptions, 99 total passes defended, and four touchdowns in 102 career games (playoffs included).

With that said, he turns 31 in July and has had a PFF grade below 60 in each of the last two seasons (for what that's worth). At the right price, Howard could be a nice veteran addition, but he might not be an elite CB1 anymore. 2020 was a long time ago.

Ogbah is also a 2016 second-rounder who turns 31 this year, so there are similar questions about how impactful he can be at this stage of his career. He's never made a Pro Bowl, but he does have 42.5 sacks across eight years with the Browns, Chiefs, and Dolphins. His two best seasons came under Flores, when he had nine sacks and over 60 pressures in both 2020 and '21. 

Ogbah could be a solid veteran addition for the Vikings this spring, but again, it'll depend on the price.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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