While the most obvious change for the Giants will be at the quarterback position, Big Blue could also move on from one of their longest-tenured players on the defensive side of the ball.
Edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, whom Big Blue drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, is set to be a free agent for the first time in his career. His time in New York has been filled with many ups and downs. Ojulari's potential departure may become a reality for Giants fans, especially after his name swirled in trade rumors at the deadline before he was ultimately retained.
Even though there hasn't been any indication of what the Giants will do with Ojulari, he is expected to receive a pretty hefty contract this offseason. As we've seen with other Giants free agents in the past, it’s been hard for them to retain key pieces. As for the 24-year-old edge rusher, if Joe Schoen and Co. opt not to re-sign him, a recent article from Bleacher Report predicts Ojulari may cash in on a new deal with this AFC East squad.
B/R predicts Ojulari will receive pretty payday from the New England Patriots
In a January 30 article, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report predicted that Ojulari will leave the Giants in free agency and sign a massive contract with the New England Patriots.
"If Ojulari does hit the market, the Patriots loom as potential suitors. They traded pass-rushers Matthew Judon and Josh Uche this past season and need to significantly bolster a pass rush that produced a mere 28 sacks in 2024," Knox wrote.
"New England, as mentioned, leads the NFL in projected cap space. It can afford to bid high on Ojulari, who would fit perfectly with the early stages of the Patriots' latest rebuild.
Knox also noted Ojulari's strong five seasons on defense for the Giants. During his rookie season, Ojulari had eight sacks, setting an all-time Giants record for sacks by a rookie. Despite an injury-riddled 2022 and a disappointing 2023—where he had a combined eight sacks over those two years—2024 was a much better season for him.
Ojulari looked like his rookie self during the 2024 regular season, recording six sacks and becoming a key piece of the Giants' pass rush when they lost both Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence at different points in the year.
Ojulari’s major bounce-back season in 2024 may end up earning him a big payday this March when the new league year begins, and that’s exactly what Knox predicts. With both Lawrence and Thibodeaux expected to be healthy for the 2025 season, along with fellow pass rusher Brian Burns up front, retaining Ojulari would be tough. He deserves a big contract, and the Patriots seem like the most logical fit, pairing him with defensive-minded head coach Mike Vrabel.