Which Dolphins players missed each of team’s voluntary OTAs?
The Miami Dolphins’ voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) have come to a close for this summer, leaving next week’s mandatory mini-camp before a lull leading into 2021 training camp. It is going to be a competitive camp for the Dolphins, who are sporting their most talented roster in recent memory from top to bottom. There will be some key position battles that need to be determined and other young players who must elevate their games — but consider this the calm before the storm.
But are there any other kinds of storms brewing on the horizon for the Dolphins?
There are a few unsettled contract situations that are worth monitoring, although it does not appear as though there is currently anything ominous or imminent that would impact player availability for the coming season ahead. Evidence for such lies in the Dolphins’ attendance at OTAs — Miami had all but two members of their expanded offseason roster in attendance for at least one of the OTA sessions, according to a report from the Miami Herald.
“(Xavien) Howard and (Emmanuel) Ogbah are the only Dolphins who have not been at any of the three voluntary sessions open to the media. At least a dozen other players missed one or two of those three sessions.” — Barry Jackson & Adam Beasley, Miami Herald
Howard’s contract situation has been widely reported and speculated on, although his absence from OTAs is reportedly rooted in reasons not tied to his desire for a revamped contract and increased pay that is more in line with his production from last season. Ogbah, on the other hand, is entering into a contract year. Reports have indicated that he would like an extension with the team after leading the Dolphins in sacks last season (9.0). Scheduled to make $7.5M on the season, Ogbah is certainly a bargain at that rate of production, but the Dolphins’ 2021 cap situation is fairly tight and the team may not be willing to tinker with his pay until they have more spending power or, more importantly, more clarity that Ogbah’s production in 2020 was not a fluke.
The good news?
Brian Flores expressed on Friday that he expects full attendance at next week’s mandatory mini-camp. So we’ll find out for certain next week if the contracts of Howard or Ogbah are that big of a problem or not soon enough.
