The Jacksonville Jaguars did a good job of revamping the defense in the offseason. While the upgrades weren't noticeable in the 35-31 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, there are signs that they're about to pay off. One, in particular, is standing out in training camp.
Following the NFL Draft, the Jags signed defensive end Emmanuel Ogaba to round out the rotation behind Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Given that he signed a one-year deal worth $3.5 million with $2 million guaranteed and a total value of $5 million, it's fair to say that he's a lock to make the team in 2025.
But despite the fact that Ogbah probably doesn't need to compete for the roster spot, he's not wasting the opportunity to wreak havoc in training camp.
Emmanuel Ogbah is comming through for the Jaguars in training camp
Mia O'Brien of ESPN reports that Emmanuel Ogbah was unstoppable on Day 14 of training camp, pointing out that he logged four big plays. Here's the skinny.
"Emmanuel Ogbah was EVERYWHERE today, tallying three would-be sacks and QB hurry," O'Brian said. "Rookie OL Wyatt Milum was caught in the crossfire on much of Ogbah's success."
This is noteworthy when you take into account that Wyatt Milum has had a strong training camp and fared well in the preseason opener. That said, Ogbah is a grizzled veteran who knows how to win matchups with both his physical prowess and technique.
Related: Winners and losers from the Jags preseason game vs. the Steelers
What kind of role will Emmanuel Ogbah have with the Jaguars in 2025?
Emmanuel Ogbah isn't competing for a starting job. Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen are the team's primary pass rushers, and that will remain the case, barring injury.
Ogbah, instead, will be part of a rotation to keep Walker and Hines-Allen fresh. Last year, the Jags didn't have a true No. 3 pass rusher, and that, in turn, hampered the duo's effectiveness. Sure, Arik Armstead lined up at defensive end, but he's better suited and more effective on the interior. Not surprisingly, he switched back to defensive tackle in 2025.
Circling back to Ogbah, he'll give the Jacksonville pass rush a boost. After Walker and Hines-Allen, no other Jaguars defender was able to bring the heat. Defensive tackle Maason Smith was third in sacks with three. Even though he's expected to improve, the team's pass rush will be more efficient with Ogbah in the mix.
A second-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2016, Ogbah has appeared in 123 games with 87 starts and registered 47.5 sacks. Apart from the Browns, he's played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy posted a combined 10.5 sacks the past two seasons, so he still has plenty of juice left.
Ultimately, the Jaguars knew that they needed to bolster their pass rush and did it when they signed Emmanuel Ogbah. The regular season hasn't started yet, and he's already showing signs of how dominant he can be.
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