Big Blue View
Giants will now hope they can re-sign both pending free agents
Azeez Ojulari is staying put. For now. After shopping him prior to Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET NFL trade deadline, the New York Giants decided not to trade the 24-year-old free-agent-to-be edge defender.
Several edge defenders were traded before the deadline. Preston Smith went from the Green Bay Packers to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns to the Detroit Lions, and Baron Browning from the Denver Broncos to the Arizona Cardinals.
Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Giants wanted a late fourth-round or early fifth-round pick in exchange for Ojulari. Failing to get that, the Giants will take their chances on either being able to re-sign him this offseason or receiving a compensatory pick should he sign elsewhere.
Per Russini, “several teams had interest” in Ojulari.
Ojulari, the Giants’ second-round pick in 2021, has 6.0 sacks in nine games this season. He also has 26 tackles (7 for loss, and 9 quarterback hits).
He posted a career-best 8.0 sacks as a rookie, but had injury-plagued seasons in 2022 and 2023 when he played in just 18 of 34 regular-season games. Overall, Ojulari has 22.0 sacks in 44 regular-season games.
After Sunday’s game against the Commanders, Ojulari knew his future was uncertain.
“I haven’t been told anything. I’m just taking it one day at a time...I’m getting ready for next week,” Ojulari said. “This is where I got drafted. Blessed to be here…trying to make the most of every opportunity I get.”
A number of wide receivers were moved on deadline day, but Darius Slayton is still a Giant.
Slayton has led the Giants in receiving yards in four of his five seasons. He is currently on pace for a career-high 886 receiving yards. Slayton has had more than 700 yards four times, but has never reached 800 yards.
Slayton’s value to the Giants has increased as 2023 second-round pick Jalin Hyatt has failed to take playing time away from him.
The 27-year-old, a fifth-round pick by the Giants in 2019, can be a free agent at season’s end. As with Ojulari, the Giants will take their chances on re-signing him or perhaps gaining a compensatory pick in the draft should Slayton sign elsewhere in free agency.
