Over the last few seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles have treated the rival New York Giants the same way a Major League Baseball team would treat their Triple-A club, as they always seem to sign their best players. It was Saquon Barkley last year, and now two possible defensive starters in 2025.
The Eagles have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with pass rusher Azeez Ojulari. This is just a few days after Philadelphia addressed their lack of a veteran cornerback following the Darius Slay release by signing Adoree Jackson away from their rivals in blue.
Ojulari is not going to be the type of player who revolutionizes the team's pass rush, but he and Jackson are able to get a hold of the same pixie dust that Barkley found in Philadelphia, the gap between Philly and New York could get even more cavernous than it was before.
Eagles sign former Giants EDGE Azeez Ojulari
Ojulari, who started 30 games across his first four seasons in the league, recorded 22 sacks in those four campaigns while tallying six in a part-time role with New York last season. The remaking of Philly's edge rusher stable is at hand after losing Josh Sweat to the Cardinals in free agency.
Ojulari was putting up numbers comparable to former No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux in the same scheme. Given Vic Fangio's work in developing Nolan Smith during his early years, Ojulari could be in for a similar production bump away from the nightmare that the Giants have become lately.
The Eagles may be down Sweat and Milton Williams thanks to free agency, and Howie Roseman would love it if someone took the Bryce Huff contract off their hands, but the Eagles have enough depth to give themselves a shot at replicating their splendid 2024 defense.
If the Eagles use a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on a pass rusher, he could join Smith in the starting lineup. With Ojulari, fellow free agent signing Josh Uche, and 2024 third-rounder Jalyx Hunt coming in as depth pieces, the Eagles could continue to make life hard on opposing quarterbacks.