The Arizona Cardinals have made calls about pass rushers Azeez Ojulari of the New York Giants and Arden Key of the Tennessee Titans, The Athletic’s Diana Russini reported on Saturday.
Arizona has been “actively calling around to add some pieces,” Russini wrote.
Pass rush has been the biggest need for the Cardinals ahead of the Nov. 5 NFL trade deadline, as the defensive front has been decimated by injuries. BJ Ojulari, Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols and Dennis Gardeck are among those out for the year while first-round pick Darius Robinson has not yet made his debut.
Pass rusher? Defensive lineman?
Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort previews the trade deadline on @WolfandLuke. pic.twitter.com/QBNoW8NtNu
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) November 1, 2024
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BJ’s older brother, Azeez, is one of the names Russini listed as potential help. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell also suggested the trade during the preseason, shortly after the younger brother’s season-ending knee injury.
Azeez has played in all eight games for the Giants in his fourth season after he was a second-round draft pick, making three starts.
He’s on pace for career highs in sacks (6.0) and tackles for loss (six). No Cardinal has more than three sacks and only Gardeck (six) has more than four tackles for loss.
Key, a seven-year veteran, has comparable numbers with 3.0 sacks and five tackles for loss with a forced fumble across seven games (six starts).