Tag: Azeez Ojulari

Azeez Ojulari relieved to remain with Giants

The New York Giants weren’t able to trade impending free agent linebacker Azeez Ojulari, which is jut fine with him.

The NFL trade deadline came and went on Tuesday without the New York Giants making any deals.

There was speculation that they could part ways with some veterans as another season has gone south on them. Impending free agents such as outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari and wide receiver Darius Slayton were mentioned as two players who could be traded.

In the end, neither was dealt, which is just fine by Ojulari, who is enjoying his first injury-free season in three years and has complied 6.0 sacks thus far.

“It’s cool that I don’t have to move or anything,” Ojulari said on Wednesday, via the New York Post. “I’m happy to be here and ready to keep going.”

After bursting onto the scene as a second-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2021, Ojulari has not been able to stay healthy, leading to the Giants seeking pass-rush options elsewhere.

In 2022, Big Blue selected Kayvon Thibodeaux with the 5th overall pick in the draft and then traded for Pro Bowler Brian Burns this offseason.

Thibodeaux has been on injured reserve (IR) for the past month with a broken wrist, which has opened the door for Ojulari to have his best season since setting the franchise rookie record for sacks (8.0) in 2021.

“I’m happy it’s behind me,” Ojulari said of the trade talk. “I’m locked in on this (next) game now. I don’t have to focus on all the other stuff or learn a new defense.

“It’s a good relief off my back. The mentality stays the same — continue to play hard and physical.”

There were several teams interested in Ojulari over the past few weeks. Arizona, Pittsburgh and Detroit were all in the market for pass rush help but found that help elsewhere. The rumors that surfaced said the Giants would let Ojulari go for a late-round draft pick.

Ojulari will now concentrate on his current role and let the chips fall where they may come March when he officially becomes a free agent.

“All I can do is play my role,” Ojulari said. “Whenever I’m out there, do whatever I can to be effective and make the most of the opportunity. We’ve still eight games — that’s a lot of games to put out good film and try to get wins.”

It sounds like Ojulari would like to stay but the Giants may not have that luxury. Things have just not lined up the right way in this relationship, which is a shame as Ojulari is clearly a talented player and you can never have enough of those.

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Last place Giants sit silent as NFL trade deadline passes

The New York Giants will retain WR Darius Slayton and LB Azeez Ojulari while sitting quietly as the NFL trade deadline passes.

The New York Giants are 2-7 after nine weeks of the 2024 season, one in which their ownership and front office believed they would be competitive.

Instead, they sit in last place in the NFC East with little hope of winning it after getting swept by division leader Washington this past Sunday.

As the trade deadline passed on Tuesday afternoon, the Giants were neither buyers nor sellers, basically sitting silently with the exception of some minor housekeeping.

The Giants would need the seas to part in order for them to even figure into the wild card hunt. According to NFLGSIS.com, they are 16th out of 16 in the NFC.

They are tied with the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints with 2-7 records but are behind them by virtue of their 1-5 conference record.

To put things into perspective, the Saints just fired head coach Dennis Allen and the Panthers have been a tire fire for years now.

Since last qualifying for the postseason in 2017, the Panthers have averaged five wins per year. The Giants play them this week in Germany in a game that is not fit for public consumption.

The Giants are last in points per game (15.4) which is a sliver lower than they were last season (15.6) and are 26th in total offense. This after head coach Brian Daboll took over the play calling this season in hopes of turning the offense into a top unit in the NFL.

The Giants are dead last in red zone scoring percentage (40.0) which speaks volumes to their inability to score points. They have scored over 20 points only three times this season and won two of those games.

With Tuesday being the NFL trade deadline, their most marketable player — outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari — did not return a palatable enough draft pick in proposed deals, and wide receiver Darius Slayton’s trade value slipped away after suffering a concussion last Sunday.

So, what do Giant fans have to look forward to for the remainder of the season? Obviously, the draft and possibly another top-5 pick, but after that, not much.

After their game in Germany this Sunday, they will head into a much-needed bye. After that, they are up against a gauntlet of playoff contenders in Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Atlanta, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia.

The only respites, believe it to not, are a Thanksgiving game in Dallas against a reeling Cowboys team and a home game versus New Orleans.

The Giants have tried just about everything to stop this free fall but nothing has worked. If they win four games, they can consider themselves fortunate.

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Report: 49ers won’t get chance to add rising star DE at trade deadline

It doesn’t sound like the 49ers will be acquiring DE Azeez Ojulari.

The San Francisco 49ers are running out of options to add defensive end help ahead of the NFL trade deadline.

Well before Tuesday’s 1:00pm deadline, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired DE Josh Uche from the New England Patriots. On Tuesday, DE Za’Darius Smith was traded by the Cleveland Browns to the Detroit Lions. After that, the Green Bay Packers dealt DE Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

San Francisco might have been aiming to acquire New York Giants DE Azeez Ojulari, but it sounds like he won’t be on the move.

NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo reported Ojulari isn’t likely to get dealt after the Giants held firm on a steep asking price for the 24-year-old.

It’s not a huge surprise the 49ers didn’t want to overpay for a potential rental. Ojulari is in the final year of his contract and figures to command a sizable deal in free agency. He has 6.0 sacks in nine games this season and has stayed healthy after dealing with injuries that limited him to 18 games across the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

For San Francisco, draft capital is going to be important piece of their future with so a roster that will likely rely less on veterans over the next couple of seasons. They’ll need premium picks to replenish their roster, and it’s unlikely they’ll be able to retain Ojulari in free agency.

The 49ers need help on the defensive line, but it doesn’t sound like it’ll come in a trade with the Giants.

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49ers will have to fight off division rival to trade for breakout star DE

The Cardinals have called the Giants about Azeez Ojulari. The 49ers should do the same.

Finding help in the trade market will be imperative for the San Francisco 49ers getting back on track to make a Super Bowl run.

There may also be an additional motivation for the 49ers to get active before the trade deadline: keeping a potential season-changing player away from an NFC West rival.

According to the Athletic’s Diana Russini, the New York Giants are taking calls on breakout star edge rusher Azeez Ojulari. One of the teams keeping in touch with them is the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals.

Via the Athletic:

Teams that are keeping an eye on the 24-year-old include the Falcons, Cardinals and Bengals. The Giants are already paying Brian Burns and spent a top-five pick on Kayvon Thibodeaux, so with Ojulari set to hit free agency after the season, GM Joe Schoen is trying to get something in return for him now.

Ojulari this season has 19 pressures and 6.0 sacks through eight games after having his 2022 and 2023 seasons cut short due to injury.

He’s not a particularly effective run stopper, but the 49ers more desperately need pass rush help. Ojulari would quickly bolster a defensive end group that hasn’t gotten much production outside of Nick Bosa.

The Cardinals are even more desperate for help on the defensive side. They’re 29th in the NFL in pressure rate according to Pro Football Reference and their 15 sacks are tied for 24th in the NFL. Getting a player like Ojulari could help boost their chances of staying atop the division.

Perhaps the 49ers aren’t interested in making a trade or getting in a bidding war for a defensive end. If it means keeping the Cardinals from bolstering their defense while simultaneously helping their own chances to make the Super Bowl though, they should be absolutely get involved.

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Report: Cardinals have called Giants about Azeez Ojulari

The Arizona Cardinals have reportedly inquired with the New York Giants about edge rusher Azeez Ojulari.

The New York Giants aren’t expected to be buyers come Tuesday’s NFL trading deadline but they might be sellers if the price is right.

Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network intimated recently that Giants general manager would have to get “blown away” by an offer to part with two of his top impending free agents, outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari and wide receiver Darius Slayton.

Many teams in need of a wide receiver have likely already made their moves in recent weeks. Buffalo acquired Amari Cooper from Cleveland, Kansas City traded for Tennessee’s DeAndre Hopkins and the Jets finally pried Davante Adams from Las Vegas.

This week, The Ravens landed Carolina’s Diontae Johnson.

Slayton has basically run out of teams in need of his services. The Giants have been showcasing him. He played every snap in last week’s loss to the Steelers on Monday night.

Ojulari, a former 2021 second-rounder who has been oft-injured the past two seasons, has 6.0 sacks to his credit this year as he reasserts himself as a top pass rusher.

That has not gone unnoticed by the Giants or the rest of the NFL.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini is reporting that there are several teams seeking an edge rusher, and with Ojulari in the final year of his rookie deal, is an attractive mid-season option.

It’s known around the league that the New York Giants, sitting in last place in the NFC East, are shopping young edge rusher Azeez Ojulari. Teams that are keeping an eye on the 24-year-old include the Falcons, Cardinals and Bengals. The Giants are already paying Brian Burns and spent a top-five pick on Kayvon Thibodeaux, so with Ojulari set to hit free agency after the season, GM Joe Schoen is trying to get something in return for him now.

Russini adds that the Arizona Cardinals have reached out to the Giants about Ojulari.

The Giants (Ojulari) and Titans (Arden Key) have taken calls from the Cardinals.

One team not listed is the Detroit Lions. They recently lost defensive end Aiden Hutchinson for the season but may be looking for more of a hand-in-the-dirt type player.

Giants sacking quarterbacks at a historic rate in 2024

The 2024 New York Giants are on pace to set a new NFL single-season record for sacks by a team.

The New York Giants plan to upgrade their pass rush this past offseason has been a success thus far. They are leading the NFL in sacks with 35 after eight weeks.

They are sacking the quarterback at a rate not seen in nearly a quarter of a century.

The Giants have 61 QB hits, tied with Baltimore for second in the league and two behind the league leader, Denver.

The Giants’ pass rush is led by interior lineman Dexter Lawrence, who leads the NFL with 9.0 sacks, and linebackers Azeez Ojulari (6.0 sacks) and Brian Burns (5.0).

Safety Jason Pinnock has three sacks and four other players — defensive lineman D.J. Davidson and linebackers Kayvon Thibodeaux, Bobby Okereke, and Micah McFadden — each have two.

The Giants are averaging 4.4 sacks per game. No other team is averaging over 3.9. The Giants are on pace for 74 sacks over the 17-game regular season.

The NFL record for team sacks is 72, set by the 1984 Chicago Bears. That was naturally over a 16-game season.

The Giants team record for sacks in a single season is 68, set back in 1985.

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Healthy again, Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari is reviving career

New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari is healthy again and reminding everyone just how dominant he can be as a pass rusher.

New York Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari began his NFL career back in 2021 as a highly-touted second-round draft pick out of Georgia.

Ojulari fell to the second round due to concerns about his surgically repaired knee. The Giants pounced and were rewarded by Ojulari who went on to set a franchise record for sacks by a rookie (8).

But since that season, Ojulari has largely been unavailable due to various injuries that do not include the knee that caused him to drop in the draft.

Ojulari started just 10 games over the next two seasons and headed into training camp this year, he had been replaced by the likes of Kayvon Thibodeaux, Boogie Basham, and Brian Burns.

The Giants had lost hope that the once-promising Ojulari would ever realize his once-massive potential.

This season, those hopes have been rekindled as Ojulari, who will be a free agent next March, has stayed healthy and become a force rushing the passer.

Ojulari has 6.0 sacks over the Giants’ first eight games this season and has gotten an opportunity due to a wrist injury to Thibodeaux. Ojulari put some wisdom behind his answer when asked how he was handling the unexpected opportunity.

“It’s an opportunity that popped up. I’m trying to take advantage of every one I get. Every chance, every rep I get. I’m trying to take it to the fullest I can,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “I know it’s my fourth year here. I just have to give it all I’ve got and try to help this team win. Play good defense. That’s all I want to do, really.”

Now comes the prospect of losing Ojulari to free agency with the team licked into Burns and Thibodeaux.

“Whatever happens, happens,” he said. “I’m just ready to keep working here. I love it here. Ready to keep working. I’m just doing my thing.”

The Giants would love to keep him, too. With the trade deadline less than a week away, they apparently have no intention of moving Ojulari, who is on pace for a 13-sack season.

The real story is that Ojulari has stayed healthy and with that comes a fresh attitude toward the job and the game.

“It feels great because we put in so much work into this game. Nobody wants to be hurt. It’s just part of the game, stuff you can’t control. You’ve got to just play your role, play your game, and just try to be as good as you can when you’re out there,” he said.

Thibodeaux will be back soon and the Giants will once again have an embarrassment of riches in their pass rush, which leads the NFL in sacks this year.

“Whenever he gets back healthy, we just try to continue to compete, execute, push each other, work together and just continue to get better and try to help this team win. And have a great defense all in one,” Ojulari said.

The Giants haven’t had many sunny stories this season and you never know where they are going to come from. The resurgence of Ojulari has been more than a pleasant and welcome surprise for Big Blue.

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Report: Giants unlikely to trade Darius Slayton, Azeez Ojulari

The New York Giants would reportedly have to be “blown away” by an offer before trading WR Darius Slayton or LB Azeez Ojulari.

With a record of 2-6 and little hope for a magical turnaround, the New York Giants are in prime position to sell at the NFL trade deadline.

For months, it has been speculated that wide receiver Darius Slayton and linebacker Azeez Ojulari would sit atop the list of likely candidates to be traded for draft assets. However, that now appears unlikely.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that general manager Joe Schoen would have to be “blown away” by a trade offer for either Slayton or Ojulari before pulling the trigger on a deal.

Not only are Slayton and Ojulari loved and respected inside the building, but both are poised to land significant free agent deals if the Giants do not re-sign them.

That’s notable because losing them via free agency could result in a better compensatory pick for the Giants than they would potentially receive for trading one or both. That’s why Schoen would need to be blown away.

Even with Slayton and Ojulari playing well and raising their overall value, it seems unlikely that another team would offer more than a late-round pick.

Asked about potential trades on Tuesday, head coach Brian Daboll kicked the can down the road.

“I’d say that’s a better question for (Schoen). I know you’re not talking to him for a few weeks. We’re kind of locked in on week-to-week opponents and that’s where my focus is,” Daboll said. “Any of those conversations we have will be private. Then, once you guys talk to Joe, you can talk to Joe.”

It looks like the Giants may not be sellers at the deadline after all.

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NFL analyst: ‘Time for Giants to embrace the tank’

One NFL analyst believes it’s time for the New York Giants to “embrace the tank” by trading away multiple starters.

The New York Giants were humiliated in Week 7, falling to the Philadelphia Eagles, 28-3, at MetLife Stadium. It dropped their record to 2-5 and has them firmly entrenched in last place in the NFC East.

Another year, another pathetic showing for Big Blue.

While some are optimistic the season could be salvaged and possibly end with a playoff appearance, most have written the Giants off entirely.

Matt Holder of the Bleacher Report scouting department believes it’s time for the Giants to fully embrace the tank and do everything in their power to secure a prime pick in the 2025 NFL draft. And he proposes they start that tank by trading away wide receiver Darius Slayton.

It’s time for the Giants to embrace the tank and start thinking about the future. Slayton is an impending free agent and the team has a couple of young wide receivers to build around moving forward with Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson. So, flipping a player who likely won’t return next year for draft picks would be a smart move.

The 27-year-old could fetch a decent return from a contending team, as he’s had over 700 receiving yards in four out of his first five seasons and is on pace to make it five out of six with 301 yards through six games in 2024.

Both Holder and his counterpart, Alex Ballentine, also believe the Giants should trade edge rusher Azeez Ojulari. However, they aren’t in agreement on a final location with Holder suggesting the Detroit Lions and Ballentine suggesting the Cincinnati Bengals.

Meanwhile, Holder looks ahead to 2025 and lists Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton as a free agent target. He also lists Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker as a potential draft target, but that’s not the name (or position) Giants fans want to hear right now.

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Bengals urged to trade for pass-rusher who gave them nightmares

One NFL trade deadline idea has the Bengals getting some serious help.

The Cincinnati Bengals need to get Trey Hendrickson some pass-rushing help near the NFL trade deadline.

While the front office likely won’t do it, the idea is certainly a popular one. Hendrickson has played through injuries over the past few years and is the main source of a pass-rush for a defense that simply isn’t all that good at it.

One NFL trade deadline idea asks the Bengals to go get a guy who already terrorized them this year — New York Giants edge rusher Azeez Ojulari.

The idea comes from Bleacher Report:

Part of the problem is a lackluster pass-rush that can’t help a secondary that has struggled with injuries. Bringing in Azeez Ojulari could be the shot in the arm they need. Ojulari has played well for the Giants and had three sacks going into Week 7. However, he’s an impending free agent and they already have plenty of money tied into Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Ojulari blasted the Bengals during Cincinnati’s Week 6 win to the tune of three pressures and two sacks, so they know all too well what he’s capable of in a rotation.

While it’s hard to say what the cost to trade for Ojulari might look like, the fact he’s 24 years old, a former second-round pick, and on an expiring contract is only counteracted by his struggles to stay healthy since 2022.

If nothing else, it’s one idea for the Bengals to consider and probably the type of deal they should be looking at if they want to be buyers at the deadline.

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