The NFL commerce deadline got here and went on Tuesday with out the New York Giants making any offers.
There was hypothesis that they may half methods with some veterans as one other season has gone south on them. Impending free brokers similar to outdoors linebacker Azeez Ojulari and large receiver Darius Slayton had been talked about as two gamers who may very well be traded.
In the long run, neither was dealt, which is simply high-quality by Ojulari, who’s having fun with his first injury-free season in three years and has complied 6.0 sacks up to now.
“It’s cool that I don’t have to maneuver or something,” Ojulari stated on Wednesday, through the New York Publish. “I’m glad to be right here and able to preserve going.”
After bursting onto the scene as a second-round draft pick of Georgia in 2021, Ojulari has not been in a position to keep wholesome, resulting in the Giants searching for pass-rush choices elsewhere.
In 2022, Large Blue chosen Kayvon Thibodeaux with the fifth general decide within the draft after which traded for Professional Bowler Brian Burns this offseason.
Thibodeaux has been on injured reserve (IR) for the previous month with a damaged wrist, which has opened the door for Ojulari to have his finest season since setting the franchise rookie document for sacks (8.0) in 2021.
“I’m glad it’s behind me,” Ojulari stated of the commerce discuss. “I’m locked in on this (subsequent) sport now. I don’t must give attention to all the opposite stuff or study a brand new protection.
“It’s an excellent aid off my again. The mentality stays the identical — proceed to play exhausting and bodily.”
There have been a number of groups thinking about Ojulari over the previous few weeks. Arizona, Pittsburgh and Detroit had been all available in the market for move rush assist however discovered that assist elsewhere. The rumors that surfaced stated the Giants would let Ojulari go for a late-round draft decide.
Ojulari will now consider his present function and let the chips fall the place they might come March when he formally turns into a free agent.
“All I can do is play my function,” Ojulari stated. “At any time when I’m on the market, do no matter I can to be efficient and profit from the chance. We’ve nonetheless eight video games — that’s a whole lot of video games to place out good movie and attempt to get wins.”
It feels like Ojulari want to keep however the Giants might not have that luxurious. Issues have simply not lined up the suitable method on this relationship, which is a disgrace as Ojulari is clearly a proficient participant and you’ll by no means have sufficient of these.
