During the NFL preseason, ESPN’s Seth Walder proposed a three-team trade, with the main headliner being the New York Giants sending pass rusher Azeez Ojulari to the Chicago Bears. This prediction could end up being true before the NFL Trade Deadline. Here’s the full trade proposal:
- New Orleans Saints Receive: OT Larry Borom
- Giants Receive: Saints’ 2025 Fifth-Round Pick
- Chicago Bears Receive: Edge Rusher Azeez Ojulari
3-Team Proposal Gives Bears Pass Rusher Azeez Ojulari
Azeez Ojulari Would Thrive With the Bears
Azeez Ojulari is off to a strong start this season, recording four sacks and 17 total tackles. He’s an underrated player, with all the love going to star defensive tackle Dexter Lawerence, who’s been on a tear, leading the NFL with nine sacks. If Ojulari were traded to the Bears, he’d take on a bigger role and step out of the shadows of Lawerence, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
While the Giants are struggling with a 2-5 record and sitting in last place, the Bears are 4-2 and pushing for a playoff spot. Pairing Ojulari with star pass rusher Montez Sweat could give Chicago one of the most underrated edge-rushing tandems in the league. Ojulari would be a starter and tasked with the massive responsibility of getting to the quarterback. He’d also benefit from support on the interior with defensive tackles Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter Sr. With free agency looming after this season, a strong performance in Chicago could set him up for a lucrative contract.
The Saints Desperately Need Offensive Line Help
As for the New Orleans Saints, the team is in dire need of help along the offensive line. Star tackle Ryan Ramczyk is out for the season due to a knee injury, starting center Erik McCoy is on injured reserve with a groin problem, and backup tackle Justin Herron is also sidelined with a knee injury. This could be a huge reason why the Saints are currently on a 5-game losing streak. If they hope to turn things around and support rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, adding an offensive lineman like Larry Borom could make a significant impact.
Borom was recently activated from IR and fully participated in practice before the game against the Washington Commanders. He has 23 starts under his belt, with 1,012 snaps at right tackle, 493 at left tackle, and a few at guard. However, it seems Borom is not in the Bears’ long-term plans. The Bears drafted tackle Kiran Amegadije in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he is expected to serve as their primary backup at tackle moving forward.
Giants Gearing Up Towards the Future
Things are looking slim right now for the Giants. They’ll likely miss the playoffs, and if it isn’t evident by now, Daniel Jones isn’t a franchise-caliber quarterback. It’ll be wise to trade a player who isn’t a cornerstone of the team like Azeez Ojulari, while his trade value is high to use for the future. This isn’t admitting defeat for the Giants; it’s simply acknowledging their mistakes and trying to improve going forward.
Main Image: Vincent Carchietta – USA Today Sports
