Giants depth chart: Azeez Ojulari has a clear path to day one role

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman did something in the 2021 NFL Draft that he had never done before as an NFL general manager — he traded down. Gettleman, for fear of being fleeced by other teams in trade offers in the heat of the moment of the NFL Draft, has simply never done it.

Had simply never done it.

This year, he made a substantial move to trade down in the 2021 NFL Draft with the Chicago Bears, who were targeting Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.

Gettleman moved down from the 11th overall pick to the 20th pick and now has some really impressive 2022 NFL Draft capital to brag about.

The move down the draft board will have a significant impact on the New York Giants depth chart in 2021 on both sides of the ball. Moving down gave Gettleman ultimate flexibility in the first few rounds of the draft and he used that flexibility.

Gettleman added Kadarius Toney in the first round before coming back in the second round and snatching Georgia pass rusher Azeez Ojulari, a projected first-round pick who was flagged at the Combine medical checks and that apparently spooked every team in the league.

Giants depth chart – Where does Azeez Ojulari fit?

Needless to say, the New York Giants are starving for some pass rush off the edge.

Leonard Williams led the team in 2020 with 11.5 sacks, followed by defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence and outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell with four apiece.

Fackrell has moved on to the Los Angeles Chargers, so the Giants depth chart is not exactly loaded with edge rushers who are proven in this league.

Ojulari has as good of a chance to rise up the Giants depth chart as anyone, and will probably end up being the team’s top option off the edge as a rookie.

Ojulari has impressive bend around the edge with elite level explosiveness and strength.

Those skills came together for Ojulari at Georgia as he used his smaller frame but long limbs to make life very difficult for opposing quarterbacks.

Coming off the edge behind players like Leonard Williams and 2019 first-round pick Dexter Lawrence?

Ojulari has a chance to be deadly.

Not only should he be considered the EDGE1 on the Giants depth chart in 2021, but he could also actually provide the team with exactly what they were missing a season ago off the edge in the pass rush department.

Ojulari is not just a speed rusher — this guy is a finisher. He knows how to get to the quarterback in a hurry but he doesn’t stop there — he finishes and knocks the ball out of the quarterback’s hands. He had four forced fumbles last season alone and the Giants are definitely hoping he can stay healthy and carry that over into his rookie NFL season.

First-round pick Kadarius Toney might have a tougher time rising to the top of the Giants depth chart as a rookie, and Ojulari certainly has a clearer path to immediate full-time snaps.