Could Draft Provide A D-Line Family Reunion For New York Giants?
The New York Giants have a lot of needs going into the official 2023 NFL season that begins on March 15th. As the calendar turned to the third month of the year, besides paring down rosters to create room under their salary caps, team personnel were ensconced at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, searching for their future stars in next month's NFL Draft. Big Blue, like many teams, are looking to beef up their defensive line.
Giants' general manager Joe Schoen did not hesitate to answer on Wednesday's press briefing when asked how he felt about the Giants’ depth along the defensive line. According to Bob Brookover at nj.com, Schoen was blunt, “Not great. That’s a premium position. Again, you talk about allocating resources to a position that’s important."
Schoen continued,"We have to be better next year at stopping the run. I think some of that is our depth.” Last April, Schoen chose Kayvon Thibodeux with the 5th overall pick. As Schoen looks to depth, is it possible that a brother of another Giant defender may join Thibodeux on the d-line? Possibly.
BJ Ojulari is an edge rusher out of LSU and is considered one of the top at his position in this year's NFL Draft. His brother Azeez, does that same job, currently, for head coach Brian Daboll and the Giants. BJ Ojulari is predicted to be a late-first round/top-second round draft pick, as one of the best edge rusher's in the draft. Big Blue picks #25. The younger Ojulari is predicted to be available at that time and the Giants did meet with him. Would BJ like to be teammates with his brother?
BJ Ojulari told Christian Arnold of amny.com, “We’ve always talked about it. So when he went to college, he wanted me to come play with him, but I took a different route. So this, I don’t have the power to choose that. So if I end up with him, I think that will be a blessing as well to be able to play with my brother again and dominate on the other end of the ball from him.” Is it likely that the Giants will take an edge rusher with their first pick?
I don't think so. Popular opinion amongst the NFL media that appear on The Drive with Charlie & Dan has been that the Giants will try to take a wide receiver with their first pick. Zay Flowers from Boston College could be the player that comes between the Ojulari brothers living a pretty cool family dream.