Will the injury-plagued San Francisco 49ers add a pass rusher?
Through five games, the 49ers are nowhere near where they had surely hoped to be. Far too many of their star players have missed time due to injury, and thanks to a pair of brutal fourth-quarter comeback losses, they find themselves under .500 at 2-3.
There's obviously time for the supremely talented 49ers to right the ship and make it back to the playoffs, particularly in the weakened NFC West. But in order to maximize their potential, they may need to hit the trade market to help their ailing pass rush.
One trade option plays for a fellow 2-3 NFC team with a significantly lower ceiling--the New York Giants. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report named the 49ers as a fit for Giants linebacker/defensive end Azeez Ojulari in a potential trade deadline deal.
"Ojulari has played just 37 percent of the defensive snaps this season. In a larger role, however, he might thrive. The 2021 second-round pick had eight sacks as a rookie and another 5.5 sacks in his second season. It's not outlandish to think he could replicate that production with a different team," Knox said.
"The 49ers may want to kick the tires on Ojulari after placing Yetur Gross-Matos on injured reserve following surgery. According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, the defensive end is expected to miss upwards of two months."
Ojulari, 24, has had a puzzling career arc so far. The former 2021 second-round pick has showcased all kinds of athleticism and versatility on defense, but the production hasn't always been there and he's consistently seen less playing time throughout his Giants career.
In 40 career games, Ojulari has 89 tackles, 29 quarterback hits, 17 sacks, and four forced fumbles. But in 2024, he has one sack and only 10 tackles through five games.
It often happens that a talented player needs to jump to an organization with better infrastructure in order to find his way in the NFL. That could certainly be the case with Ojulari and the 49ers, who are known for getting the most out of their defensive talent.
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