NY Giants’ Azeez Ojulari ‘a damn good athlete,’ NFL executive says

The NY Giants came away with one of the steals of the 2021 NFL Draft so far, plucking former Georgia edge rusher Azeez Ojulari with the No. 50 overall choice in the second round, after first trading back eight spots.

“I like him quite a bit,” a rival NFC personnel executive tells GMenHQ, on the condition of anonymity to be able to speak freely about the Giants’ incoming rookie. “Good production against the quarterback in college, has a good motor, and he’s a damn good athlete.”

It’s easy to see what the NY Giants, and the personnel man loved about Ojulari, when watching him on film.

Ojulari, 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds, is teeming with athleticism and is a plug-and-play starter at outside linebacker, especially because of his speed-rushes and how easily he frequently swipes away the hands of would-be blockers en-route to the backfield.

“He’s a perfect fit for that defense,” an AFC South scout tells GMenHQ. “Knows how to rush from the outside, has a variety of moves, knows how to use his hands well to set up his moves.”

NY Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is known for playing multiple and moving his players around to weaponize them against the opposing quarterback, and Ojulari’s ability to make plays from various spots will suit him well.

In three seasons in Athens, Ojulari produced 70 tackles, 14 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, generated 74 total pressures. He just might vault former Georgia teammate Lorenzo Carter and 2019 third-round pick Oshane Ximines to the top of the NY Giants’ pass-rush rotation.

Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL