The Green Bay Packers currently sit in third place in the NFC North despite holding a strong 9-4 record. With the Detroit Lions building something special in their division, the Packers are not far behind but still have areas to improve—particularly in their pass rush.
In an analysis of every team’s needs, Matt Holder of Bleacher Report projected that the Packers might target New York Giants edge rusher Azeez Ojulari in the offseason to address this issue.
“Outside of Rashan Gary, Green Bay hasn’t seen much production from its edge rushers this season. It was somewhat surprising that the front office didn’t acquire another pass rusher to complement Gary at the trade deadline, instead opting to trade Preston Smith,” Holder wrote. “Signing Ojulari could be a smart move for the organization. He’s been productive in 2024 with six sacks in 11 games, despite starting only five on the Giants’ deep defensive line.”
Rashan Gary, who has started all 13 games this season, has tallied 5.5 sacks. Meanwhile, Ojulari has recorded six sacks in just 11 games, with only five starts. As Ojulari enters the final year of his rookie contract, his career total of 22 sacks makes him an attractive option for teams in need of pass-rushing help.
Although the Packers have made significant investments in their pass rush, they have yet to see the desired results. The team extended Gary earlier this year, but his season started slow. Lukas Van Ness, a 2023 first-round pick, has yet to meet expectations. Adding the 24-year-old Ojulari could provide the spark the Packers need opposite Gary, much like the acquisitions of Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith did back in 2019.
