Azeez Ojulari has gone from record-setter to after thought

Not that long ago, Azeez Ojulari was a record-setting rookie edge defender for the New York Giants. Now, Ojulari is an afterthought in discussions about the key players on the team’s current defense.

Let’s discuss Ojulari as we continue player-by-player profiles of the Giants’ 90-man roster.

The skinny

Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 240
Opening day age: 24
Position: Edge
Experience: 3
Contract: Final year of four-year, $6,774,914 rookie deal | 2024 cap hit: $2,155,655 | Guaranteed in 2024: $0

Career to date

Ojulari set the non-Lawrence Taylor Giants’ franchise rookie sack record when he had 8.5 in 2021. Taylor had 9.5 in 1981, but sacks were not an official NFL statistic at the time. Ojulari’s sack total masked the fact that his Pro Football Focus pass-rush win percentage of 6.7 was just 50th of 52 qualifiers who played roughly 50% of their team’s pass-rush snaps. Still, the productivity offered promise that the Giants may have found a young edge defender to build around.

Ojulari, selected in Round 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft, has not been on the field enough the past two seasons to build on his rookie success.

Ojulari has played in just 18 of 34 regular-season games the past two seasons. In 2022, Ojulari suffered a calf injury in training camp, aggravated it early in the season, and then suffered ankle and quad injuries as he played in just seven games. He did finish with 5.5 sacks.

In 2023, ankle and hamstring injuries limited him to 11 games and just 2.5 sacks.

2024 outlook

The offseason trade for Brian Burns has turned Ojulari into a third wheel on the edge for the Giants. In my times around the Giants this spring, I can’t recall Ojulari’s potential 2024 role being discussed at any time.

If Ojulari can stay healthy, it seems likely that defensive coordinator Shane Bowen could find ways to get him on the field in pass-rush situations. He would also qualify as quality depth behind Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Ojulari, frankly, is playing for his football future. The 2024 season is the final one on his rookie contract. His performance will determine whether he remains with the Giants beyond the upcoming season, and what kind of contract he gets from the Giants or another NFL team.

Ojulari can be a great luxury for the Giants’ defense. If he can avoid the leg injuries that have plagued him the past two seasons.