NY Giants’ Azeez Ojulari was best in NFL Draft class in key category

Azeez Ojulari and the NY Giants might be the best overall fit of any player in the NFL Draft

The NY Giants adeptly matched exceptional value to glaring need during the 2021 NFL Draft, trading back eight spots to select Azeez Ojulari No. 50 overall in the second-round, last Friday night.

Ojulari has the potential to be a plug-and-play starter at the top of an NY Giants’ pass-rush rotation in desperate need of athletic reinforcements.

Last season at Georgia, Ojulari produced nine sacks, eight quarterback hits, and 20 total pressures as one of the Bulldogs’ most dominant front-seven defenders.

“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.”

Pro Football Focus agrees with the scout’s assessment, pointing out that Ojulari had the highest-pass-rush grade in this year’s class, and listing Ojulari as one of the best fits in this year’s draft class:

"The Giants are among the few teams that still have a true 3-4 outside linebacker role in their defense. Last year, Kyler Fackrell dropped into coverage over eight snaps a game. Ojulari is more than athletic enough to do that at 249 pounds while also being a weapon off the edge as a rusher. His 91.5 pass-rushing grade was the best in this draft class."

If that dominance off the edge translates for Ojulari to the NFL, the NY Giants will have significantly improved the defense, and added a legitimate playmaker on that side of the ball.

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