Trade idea: Cardinals should target Giants edge Azeez Ojulari, says ESPN’s Barnwell

How can the Arizona Cardinals upgrade their already shaky pass rush that took a hit when linebacker BJ Ojulari was lost for the year with a knee injury? By keeping it in the family, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, who proposed Arizona trades for New York Giants edge Azeez Ojulari.

Azeez, the older brother of BJ, was a 2021 second-round pick who put together a productive rookie year before losing time to injury and other starting-caliber pass rushers.

But on an expiring $1.6 million deal in 2024, Azeez could be had at a relatively low cost as the Giants have made it clear he is not one of their priorities to retain. According to Barnwell, it makes sense for the Cardinals to target the older Ojulari brother ahead of the 53-man roster cut deadline Tuesday at 1 p.m. MST.

Selected by Dave Gettleman in the final draft of the prior regime in New York, Ojulari got off to a promising start as a rookie, racking up eight sacks and 13 knockdowns. Since then, injuries have limited him to eight sacks across 18 games over the past two seasons.

He could be a useful player to hold in reserve, but the Giants might want to recoup some of the draft capital they sent the Panthers for (Brian) Burns if they can get a good offer in Ojulari’s final season before free agency.

New York has added Burns via trade and extended him for five years to make him and Kayvon Thibodeaux the 1-2 edge punch.

The Cardinals, on the other hand, have indicated they’re aware they have a lot of room to shuffle their pass rush group.

On Monday night, they shipped odd-man-out Cam Thomas, a 2022 third-round pick, to the Kansas City Chiefs for a seventh-round draft pick.

Arizona’s pass rush depth chart as Tuesday began includes projected starters Dennis Gardeck and Zaven Collins. They are backed up by Jesse Luketa, Victor Dimukeje, Tyreke Smith and Xavier Thomas.

The Cardinals have depth in some sense. Many of those players could make an NFL roster, but they arguably are without a single proven starter. Collins enters just his second season as an on-ball linebacker after spending his first two seasons in an off-ball role under the former regime led by general manager Steve Keim and coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Gardeck has productive seasons under his belt but has never been more than a role player.

Taking a low-risk chance to address a position that appears of concern — and one exacerbated by the injury to interior lineman Darius Robinson — makes a lot of sense.

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