1. Ovie Oghoufo
New Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen wants an edge player to be relentless, wreak havoc, and pressure the QB. He won't be as aggressive as former DC Wink Martindale scheme wise, but he wants defensive linemen that can win without having to do as much blitzing. Last year, outside of Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants didn't have another consistent edge-rusher that could keep the pressure on opposing teams' offenses. Schoen traded forBurns to hopefully be that consistent edge-rusher from the other side.
While the edge group may be coming together, there are a lot of questions after Thibs and Burns. Who is the third guy in the rotation? Is that person currently even on the roster? A lot of fans and coaches alike are hoping it will be Azeez Ojulari, but he has had injury concerns the past two years. After Ojulari, the Giants have Boogie Basham, Benton Whitley, Tomon Fox, and undrafted free agent Ovie Oghoufo. Basham, Whitley, and Fox struggled last season, and outside of Thibodeaux the next Giants edge with some production was Jihad Ward, who is no longer with the team.
Oghoufo is an undrafted free agent edge out of LSU who has a big chance at making the team. He doesn't have any eye-popping stats or elite traits, but what he lacks there he makes up for with his relentless pursuit, a crazy motor, and a no quit attitude. He isn't going to put up 15-sack seasons, but what the Giants are going to need is a hard-working player who is going to fight play after play, to play at the QBs heels, and to keep them uncomfortable.
If Oghoufo can show to the staff that he can outwork the other unproven players in the room, Oghoufo might be sticking to this roster, and not just the practice squad. Let's see if he can take advantage of his reps once camp gets here.