The NFL offseason is an incredibly volatile period filled with hope and heartbreak. Not every draft pick or signing is destined to pan out, and fans of the New York Giants have learned that the hard way. Remember Kenny Golladay? Or Kadarius Toney?
Once hyped as game changers before flaming out, New York has been home to countless players who failed as Giants before either ending up out of the NFL or finding a home elsewhere.
Sometimes, burning the bridge and moving on from a failed experiment does pay dividends. But in this case, the G-Men risk repeating history by letting one of their brightest talents walk away.
Azeez Ojulari could become the second Giant in as many years to thrive in Kelly Green
The Giants should be elated with Abdul Carter next to Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, but letting Azeez Ojulari walk could be a mistake.
While he did not produce much with Big Blue, he still flashed upside, recording a respectable 8.0 sacks as a rookie and 6.0 in 2024. Yet that’s still a far cry from what was expected of the 2021 second-round pick.
The 24-year-old pass rusher was stuck behind a crowded depth chart, struggled with injuries, and was never given a consistent opportunity to show what he could do week after week. But the Giants didn’t trade him when provided the opportunity.
Aside from his rookie season, he never played a full 17-game season. The Georgia product has missed 22 games across his last three seasons. But now he is headed to a common home for G-Men rehabilitation projects: the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles.
We saw how the departure to the City of Brotherly Love helped Saquon Barkley. After an injury-riddled tenure in NY, Barkley found new life in Philly. He eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards, was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and hoisted a Lombardi Trophy.
Not a bad outcome for a former Giant cast aside.
But like Barkley, Ojulari is positioned for a breakout season in Philadelphia, though on a smaller scale. The Eagles have a clear role for him and a defensive scheme that suits his strengths, and the coaching staff has the confidence to unleash his potential.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is among the best in football at harnessing the potential of his defensive lines. Add to that the star-studded supporting cast which includes a reunion with Georgia teammates Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Nakobe Dean, and Nolan Smith — and Ojulari’s transition should be smoother than ever.
After signing a one-year prove-it deal this March, all signs point to Ojulari finally making good on his potential, especially as a rotational pass rusher in a picture-perfect situation.
But despite a star-studded front line of their own, let’s hope Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll look back in six months, and this time, not regret letting another young talent slip through their fingers.