Eagles Sign Pass Rusher Azeez Ojulari to One-Year Deal

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Eagles Sign Pass Rusher Azeez Ojulari to One-Year Deal \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Philadelphia Eagles have signed free agent Azeez Ojulari to a one-year, $4 million deal, strengthening their pass rush after losing Josh Sweat to Arizona. The former New York Giants edge rusher had six sacks last season but has battled injuries throughout his career. Ojulari, 24, joins an already deep Eagles defensive line as he looks to regain his rookie-year form.

Azeez Ojulari Joins Eagles: Quick Looks

Eagles Add Pass Rusher: Former Giants DE Azeez Ojulari signs a one-year deal.
Contract Details: Reportedly worth $4 million, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Injury Concerns: Has missed 17 games over the past two seasons.
Giants Career: Logged 22 sacks in 46 games but was limited in recent years.
2023 Performance: Had six sacks in 11 games, including five in a three-game stretch.
Eagles’ Defensive Moves: Also signed Joshua Uche to boost their pass rush.
Depth Chart Impact: Will compete for snaps with Haason Reddick, Brandon Graham, and Uche.
Giants Role Reduced: Became a situational pass rusher after Giants traded for Brian Burns.

Deep Look

Philadelphia Adds Pass Rush Help with One-Year Deal

The Philadelphia Eagles have added another edge rusher to their rotation, signing former New York Giants defensive end Azeez Ojulari to a one-year contract, the team announced Monday.

While financial terms were not officially disclosed, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the deal is worth $4 million.

The signing comes as the Eagles look to reload their defensive front, having lost Josh Sweat to the Arizona Cardinals in free agency. Ojulari, a talented but injury-prone pass rusher, joins another new addition, Joshua Uche, as Philadelphia reinforces its pass rush for the 2025 season.

Ojulari’s Injury-Plagued Giants Career

Ojulari, 24, was originally drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of the University of Georgia.

His rookie season showed promise:

2021 Stats: 8 sacks, 49 tackles, and 13 QB hits in 17 games.
Set a Giants rookie record for most sacks in a season (8).

However, injuries soon derailed his career. Over the past three seasons, Ojulari has played in just 29 games due to a series of lower-body injuries, including:

2022: Played in just seven games (calf, ankle, and quad injuries).
2023: Limited to 11 games, missing the final six contests with a toe ligament injury.

Despite his injury struggles, Ojulari has 22 career sacks in 46 games, showing flashes of elite pass-rushing ability when healthy.

Success in 2023 Despite Injuries

Although his role was reduced in New York, Ojulari made the most of his limited opportunities.

With Kayvon Thibodeaux sidelined, Ojulari had a breakout three-game stretch, recording five sacks.
However, another setback followed—this time a big toe ligament injury—that forced him onto injured reserve as the Giants fell out of contention.

The Giants had moved Ojulari to a situational role after acquiring Brian Burns in a trade, further limiting his snap count. Now with the Eagles, he will have a chance to compete for a larger role in a deep pass-rushing rotation.

How Ojulari Fits in the Eagles’ Defense

Philadelphia has made bolstering its pass rush a priority, signing both Ojulari and Joshua Uche in free agency.

Eagles Projected Defensive End Depth Chart (2025)

Haason Reddick – All-Pro pass rusher coming off another dominant season.
Josh Sweat (Departed) – Signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
Brandon Graham – Longtime veteran likely in his final season.
Joshua Uche – Former Patriots pass rusher joins as a rotational piece.
Azeez Ojulari – Will compete for significant playing time.

Ojulari’s quick first step and ability to bend around the edge make him a strong situational rusher, particularly in passing-down packages. If he stays healthy, he could be a steal for the Eagles on this short-term deal.

Eagles’ Defensive Rebuild Continues

Philadelphia is coming off a disappointing finish to the 2024 season, where a late-season collapse saw them exit early in the NFL playoffs.

Despite losing Josh Sweat, the team has retooled its defensive front, maintaining a strong rotation of edge rushers to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

With Ojulari and Uche added to the mix, Philadelphia hopes to replicate the success of its dominant 2022 defensive front, which recorded 70 sacks en route to a Super Bowl appearance.

Final Thoughts: Can Ojulari Stay Healthy and Deliver?

Azeez Ojulari has the talent to be a difference-maker, but his success in Philadelphia will come down to one major factor—staying healthy.

If he remains on the field, he could be a valuable pass-rushing asset and outperform his one-year, $4 million contract.
If injuries persist, he may continue to be limited to a situational role.

For now, the Eagles are betting on Ojulari’s upside, hoping that their latest defensive addition can help strengthen their quest for another Super Bowl run.