Three Replacement Options Miami Has After Shaquil Barrett’s Retirement
Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Normally, people move to Florida after they retire, not before. To each their own, though. Months after signing a one-year deal with the Dolphins, Shaquil Barrett shocked the NFL and walked away from the game entirely.
Just in: Two-time Pro-Bowl linebacker Shaquil Barrett informed the Dolphins that he wants to spend more time with his family and he now will be retiring from the NFL. Barrett also was a two-time Super Bowl champion who played four seasons with Denver and five with Tampa Bay. pic.twitter.com/4beJWsNA6X
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 20, 2024
Barrett made the retirement announcement in an Instagram post on Saturday. “It’s time for me to hang it up. It’s been a great ride, and I appreciate everything that came with it over the years,” Barrett said on Instagram. “I’m ready to shift my full focus to my wife and kids and helping them realize their dreams and catch them. Anyone who caught their dreams before knows the work, time, and consistency required to reach them. I’m ready to start building those skills up in my kids which will take 100% commitment.”
Barrett deciding to spend more time with his family is completely justified, especially considering he tragically lost his youngest daughter Arrayah in a drowning accident in April 2023. Over nine seasons with Denver and Tampa Bay, the two-time Super Bowl champion linebacker totaled 400 combined tackles, 125 quarterback hits, and 59.0 sacks.
With Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb still recovering from late-season injuries, Barrett’s sudden departure leaves the Dolphins thin at edge rusher to begin the season. Who can step up to take his spot?
Chop Robinson
The normal path for most NFL rookies is that they are eased into the league and given a chance to adjust to the NFL. Now that Barrett has retired, the Dolphins have an opportunity to find his replacement in-house and make Chop Robinson their Day One starter.
“He plays hard,” general manager Chris Grier said. “He plays his ass off. And that’s what we like.”
The Penn State pass rusher combined for 41 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles in his final two years with the Nittany Lions. He may not have the gaudy stats that one would expect from a first-round selection, but his effort and playstyle made him beloved amongst his coaches. In particular, former Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was quick to congratulate him upon being drafted into the NFL.
Great pick @MiamiDolphins🐬 Pairing @chopyoungbull with @JJPhillips15 together is how you terrorize QBs! ⚒️⚒️⚒️ Great players and better men!
— Manny Diaz (@Coach_MannyDiaz) April 26, 2024
Robinson is an explosive athlete with agility and a powerful frame who can make an immediate impact as an edge rusher.
Yannick Ngakoue
If the Dolphins decide against making Robinson a starter right away, there are a load of veteran free agents who could take on the starting role. It wouldn’t be unheard of, as Grier has spent this offseason loading up Miami’s roster with Defensive Players Whose Names You Have Heard Before™, including Kendall Fuller, Calais Campbell, and Jordan Poyer, among others.
It appears that Miami is interested in bringing in yet another player in that category.
News that I can get behind. #Dolphins set to workout Yannick Ngakoue as well on Monday according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus ‼️😈 pic.twitter.com/aCnI9N2S3J
— Bobby Shouse (@B_Shousejr) July 22, 2024
Ngakoue is coming off a season with the Chicago Bears where he produced career-low totals of 22 tackles and 4.0 sacks. Despite his lackluster season, he has still been an above-average pass rusher throughout his career, as he has at least 8.0 sacks in every other season of his career.
The veteran pass rusher, who has played for six teams in the past five seasons, made a name for himself from 2016 to 2019, when he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. His best season was in 2017, where he totaled 12.0 sacks, led the NFL with six forced fumbles, and was named to the Pro Bowl. In the final three years of his tenure with the Jags, he was teammates with the aforementioned Campbell.
Over eight career seasons, Ngakoue has a total of 69.0 sacks, and we just think that’s swell.
Emmanuel Ogbah
Is a reunion in the cards? It’s entirely possible.
Dolphins will host free agent EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah for a work out Monday, per source.
Ogbah could fill much-needed pass rush void after Shaq Barrett retirement. He was productive in limited 2023 Dolphins role (5.5 sacks in 25% of snaps). Could do more under new DC Anthony Weaver.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) July 21, 2024
Ogbah was released by the Phins just before the start of free agency in 2024 in a cap-saving move. The pass rusher was smack dab in the middle of a four-year, $65 million contract that he signed with Miami prior to the 2022 season. The contract was justified at the time, as he totaled 9.0 sacks in each of his first two seasons with the Dolphins. His play once the extension kicked in was hardly worth that pricey contract, as in that span, he only started just four games, totaled 31 tackles, and had 6.5 sacks.
That’s not to say that the Phins can’t bring back their longtime trench player as a familiar face, especially if it’s on a more team-friendly deal. Even though he will be a newcomer to Anthony Weaver’s defensive system, he won’t be a new face with other coaches, teammates, and the faithful Dolphins fan base.
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