Eagles Boost Defense by Snatching Ex-Giant Pass Rusher Azeez Ojulari

The Eagles have quietly gone about business during the first wave of free agency and may have hit on another Zack Baun signing with the one-year deal for former Giants pass rusher Azeez Ojulari.

Ojulari secures a one-year, $4 million agreement and teams up with rookie Josh Uche within Philadelphia’s newly transformed, significantly more youthful cohort of pass rushers. The Eagles retain Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Bryce Huff as consistent players under contract and might consider trading away their top 2024 free agent following an unsuccessful initial campaign.

With reactions and observations pouring, we're looking at an instant analysis of the under-the-radar deal that could prove lucrative for the player and the team.

Ojulari has experienced ups and downs.

The performance of the pass rusher has fluctuated, yet at his best, Ojulari can be quite remarkable. At the beginning of last season, Ojulari found himself as an understudy, participating in merely 37% of the defensive plays and recording only one sack over the initial five matches. However, after Thibodeaux sustained a wrist injury which created an opportunity, Ojulari seized his chance upon returning to the starting role. In just three starts, he notched five sacks and concluded the campaign with a total of eight.

Ojulari could have a Zack Baun-like impact

This time last year, Zack Baun quietly signed a one-year deal with the Eagles after exiting New Orleans with unfulfilled potential and a desire to be a starter. Fast forward, Baun switched positions and earned a starting role, Pro Bowl, and All-Pro honors while becoming a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Baun turned that into a three-year deal, and Ojulari could cash out similarly.

Youth movement continues

The Eagles' General Manager, Howie Roseman, has expressed his intention to provide more game time for younger players currently on the team. He’s also focused on bringing in talents who have not reached their prime yet. Following the signings of Uche and Ojulari, the average age of Philadelphia's rushers at defensive end spots is now 25.6 years old.

Another bulldog has joined the eagles.

Philadelphia has become the new Athens up North, with the inclusion of Ojulari adding seven former Bulldogs to their team roster, all positioned defensively, including two as edge rushers.

Health is Wealth

When fit and playing well, Ojulari has demonstrated an ability to generate effective pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Selected in the second round of the 2021 draft, he set a new franchise record for sacks by a rookie with eight tallies. Nevertheless, recurring injuries hampered Ojulari’s participation over his last few years with the Giants. In 2022 alone, he sat out ten contests, followed by missing six games apiece in the previous couple of seasons.

Even though he missed playing time due to injuries, Ojulari managed to record 5.5 sacks in just seven matches during the 2022 season and added another six sacks over 11 games in 2024. Throughout his tenure with the Giants, which included participating in 46 contests (with 30 starting assignments), Ojulari accumulated an impressive total of 22 sacks along with 21 tackles for loss.

More draft compensation

Over the coming two years, the Eagles will possess at least 22 draft picks, with compensatory selections being central to Howie Roseman’s strategy. Should Ojulari excel this season and then leave, Philadelphia would gain additional resources for future moves.

The article initially appeared on Eagles Wire. Quick take on the Eagles bolstering their roster with a formerly underestimated skill player, ex-Giants standout pass rusher Azeez Ojulari.

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