Melvin Ingram III agrees to join Miami Dolphins defense

The three-time Pro Bowl defensive end split his 2021 campaign between the Steelers and Chiefs; he previously played for Chargers

MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins and defensive end Melvin Ingram III have reached an agreement, a league source confirmed to ESPNadding quality depth to a defense that in the area of ​​pressure was among the most aggressive in the NFL last season.

A three-time elected Pro Bowl, Ingram visited the dolphins prior to 2022 NFL Draft in April, and joins a unit in Miami which is headed by Emmanuel Ogbah, Jaelan Phillips Y Andrew Van Ginkel in a rotation that charged 38 percent of opponents’ passing plays in 2021, the second-highest rate in the league. The catch frequency of the dolphins of 7.3 percent was the seventh highest in the NFL last year.

While a majority of his most notable offseason additions have come on the offensive side of the ball, Ingram represents the biggest defensive addition for the dolphins To the date. Miami re-signed most of his defensive free agents, including ogbah and the linebackers Elandon Roberts, Brennan Scarlett Y Duke Riley. Also, the team spent fourth and seventh round picks on linebackers Channing Tindall Y cameron gooderespectively.

The reporter from NFLJordan Schultz, was the first to announce the agreement of Ingram with the dolphins.

Earlier this month, the Kansas City Chiefs had placed a qualified unrestricted free agent offer on Ingrammeaning that his signing with the dolphins will count toward the compensatory selections formula of the NFL. In the event that Ingram had not reached an agreement with another club by July 22, the chiefs would have retained exclusive trading rights with Ingramat 110 percent of his 2021 salary, which would have been $4.4 million.

Ingram33 years old, joined the chiefs last season after being transferred from the Pittsburgh Steelers just before the redemption deadline. After one sack in six appearances for the Steelers, Ingram added three more in 12 games with the chiefs.

In one of the most important defensive plays of the season for the chiefsIngram forced a fumble from the Los Angeles running back. Denver Broncos, Melvin Gordon IIIin the fourth quarter of the regular season finale, and was returned by linebacker Nick Bolton for the go-ahead touchdown in a 28-24 win.

Ingram began his career NFL with the San Diego Chargers. In nine seasons with the franchise, Ingram he had 49 sacks, including a career-high 10.5 in 2015 and 2017.

He was selected to play in the Pro Bowl at the end of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Information from Adam Teicher was used in the writing of this note.