Azeez Ojulari didn’t have to pack up his apartment Tuesday night and can exhale for the remainder of the season.
The NFL trade ᴅᴇᴀᴅline came and went without the Giants shipping their 24-year-old pᴀss rusher to a contender for a draft pick, ending weeks of hard-to-ignore speculation.
“It’s cool that I don’t have to move or anything,” Ojulari said after Wednesday’s practice. “I’m happy to be here and ready to keep going.”
Ojulari said that he was in contact with his agent throughout the lead-up to the ᴅᴇᴀᴅline while still trying to go about his regular off day routine.
He found out in the afternoon that he was staying put.
“It’s part of the business, but I can’t control that,” Ojulari said. “I feel like everything smooth. Nothing crazy, nothing scary.”
The Giants reportedly received calls about Ojulari but were not willing to move him for less than a fifth-round draft pick despite the likelihood of losing him in free agency after the season.
There have been no known extension negotiations, and the Giants already have a pair of top pᴀss rushers in Brian Burns, who is signed to a $141 million deal, plus former No. 5-overall draft pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is about to be eligible for an extension.
Ojulari has five sacks in the past four games — coinciding with a boost in his playing time while Thibodeaux is sidelined after wrist surgery.
“I’m happy it’s behind me,” Ojulari said. “I’m locked in on this [next] game now. I don’t have to focus on all the other stuff or learn a new defense.”
The market price for edge rushers was lower than anticipated as Preston Smith (Packers to Steelers) was dealt for a seventh-round pick, Baron Browning (Broncos to Cardinals) went for a sixth-rounder, and Za’Darius Smith (Browns to Lions) and a seventh-rounder returned fifth- and sixth-rounders.
Thibodeaux, who will not play Sunday against the Panthers, said Wednesday that he plans to return after next week’s bye.
That addition likely will reduce Ojulari’s snap count, but maybe not all the way back down to the 37 percent that he was playing to start the season.
“All I can do is play my role,” Ojulari said. “Whenever I’m out there, do whatever I can to be effective and make the most of the opportunity. We’ve still eight games — that’s a lot of games to put out good film and try to get wins.”
Former Giants general manager Dave Gettleman drafted Ojulari with a second-round pick in 2021.
His 22 sacks since then are second on the team to Dexter Lawrence (23.5).
“It’s a good relief off my back,” Ojulari said. “The mentality stays the same — continue to play hard and physical.”
The Giants also held onto pending free-agent receiver Darius Slayton at the ᴅᴇᴀᴅline.
He is not allowed to conduct media interviews while in the NFL-regulated concussion protocol.
