The Las Vegas Raiders have been hit hard by injuries so far this season, and that has been especially true at edge rusher, where the team has lost one starter and has another one injured.
After Malcolm Koonce was placed on season-ending injured reserve a few weeks ago, Maxx Crosby has been dealing with a high-ankle sprain that forced him to miss his first game in Week 4. He is also questionable for Week 5.
With that in mind, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox believes the Raiders could make a play for former New York Giants second-round pick and edge rusher, Azeez Ojulari.
“The 24-year-old would also be a logical target for the Raiders. Las Vegas has also recorded eight sacks this season, but standout pass-rusher Maxx Crosby has been battling a high ankle sprain that kept him out of Week 4,” Knox wrote. “Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham held the same position in New York during Ojulari’s impressive rookie campaign.”
Ojulari had the best season of his career under Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham in 2021, when he tallied eight sacks in his first season in the league.
However, Ojulari has had issues staying healthy since then and has just 3.5 sacks over his last 15 games dating back to last season, including one in four games in 2024.
The Raiders could use more edge help, no doubt, but with the team set to sell off its top wide receiver, Davante Adams, and with what we’ve seen from this year’s team over four games, chances are general manager Tom Telesco will be selling and not buying moving forward.
Granted, Ojulari is only 24 years old, so on the surface he would seem to be a fit for a team with its eye on the future like Las Vegas, but he’s also on the final year of his rookie deal and there’s no guarantee he’ll be back next year.
If the Raiders were going to compete this year, a trade for Ojulari might make some sense. However, with where Las Vegas is right now, there’s no need for Telesco to make such a move.
