As busy as NY Giants general manager Joe Schoen was this spring and summer, you know he's not done improving this roster just yet. There are expected to be plenty of trades in the coming weeks across the NFL, with the G-Men surely set to make something happen.
Could that include adding some pass-rush depth to help out defensive coordinator Wink Martindale? That could end up being the case, as analyst Cam Marino took to Twitter to say that NY might be in the mix for Lions fourth-year pass-rusher Julian Okwara. Will this go down before Week 1 arrives?
Been told by a couple sources that Julian Okwara to the Giants is one to watch.. https://t.co/JWGlc2PJcj
— Cam Marino (@MarinoNFL) August 21, 2023
The Giants trading for Julian Okwara would make a ton of sense
Okwara isn't considered a superstar in this league, but he'd most definitely provide NY with needed depth on the outside. Right now, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari are of course the headliners at outside linebacker for Martindale.
Behind them, though, things are pretty thin. Jihad Ward is back on a one-year deal, but more experienced bodies are needed behind Thibodeaux, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and Ojulari.
That's where Okwara could come in. Last season for Detroit, the 6-4, 245 pounder appeared in 10 games, but suffered a season-ending elbow injury in the Thanksgiving Day game vs. the Bills. He finished the campaign with 17 total tackles and two sacks. It was a bit of a down year for him, as he looked much better in '22.
That fall and winter. Okwara appeared in 13 games (one start) and recorded 27 total tackles and five sacks. If he were to make his way to East Rutherford, Okwara wouldn't be looked at to come in and push for a starting job, but he could see plenty of action in relief of Thibodeaux and Ojulari. We'll see if Schoen tries landing him or not.
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