If the Cincinnati Bengals really want to be buyers at the NFL trade deadline, there’s one name the team should have circled in red ink.
Azeez Ojulari.
The New York Giants pass-rusher is an obvious trade candidate on the block before the deadline, to the point he’s spotlighted in a new report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini:
It’s a poorly kept secret that the New York Giants, sitting in last place in the NFC East, are shopping young edge rusher Azeez Ojulari. Teams that are keeping an eye on the 24-year-old include the Falcons, Cardinals and Bengals. The Giants are already paying Brian Burns and spent a top-five pick on Kayvon Thibodeaux, so with Ojulari set to hit free agency after the season, GM Joe Schoen is trying to get something in return for him now.
Bengals fans might remember Ojulari — when the Bengals beat the Giants in Week 6, he had three pressures and two sacks and made the lives of Joe Burrow and Co. miserable.
Ojulari is the perfect blend of factors for the Bengals at the trade deadline. He can help right now in a rotation, providing Trey Hendrickson some relief. He’s just 24 years old and a former second-round pick. He won’t cost that much to obtain. And he’s on the final year of his rookie deal—so he’s not expensive now, extendable over the summer or easy to part ways with if it doesn’t work out.
The fact it’s so obvious the Giants are sellers and have Ojulari available might drive the asking price down. But even if the cost is a mid-round pick, the Bengals need help now.
Considering the Bengals have more needs than they can possibly address in one offseason, Ojulari might eliminate one of those in early November—while helping the current version of the team stay alive in the messy AFC playoff race.
