Two of the main edge rush dominoes have now fallen as the trade deadline approaches. Baron Browning was dealt yesterday by the Broncos to the Cardinals, with the long-awaited Za'Darius Smith The trade is being worked out this morning between the Browns and Lions.

The Browning trade gave Denver only a sixth-round pick due to his status as a pending free agent. This prize could be crucial for the Giants Azeez Ojulari. He is also nearing the end of his rookie contract and the lack of extension talks with New York makes him a top candidate today. Unsurprisingly, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that calls to Ojulari continue to come in.

Specifically, Fowler adds that the Giants appear to value the 24-year-old more highly than the return Browning received. According to recent reports, New York has set a high asking price for both Ojulari and other rental properties Darius Slayton, who also wants to remain a giant, even if there is no new contract in sight for him. Over the weekend, it was predicted that a fifth-round pick would likely be the best-case scenario for New York should Ojulari be traded. After dealing Browning for a single Day 3 pick, it will be interesting to see if the Giants are willing to approve a deal for a similar fee.

The Cardinals were among the teams that showed interest in Ojulari, but with Browning on the roster, they may be removed from the list of potential suitors. The Lions also filled a big need with the acquisition of Smith, but teams like the Falcons could still be in the running. The same could very well be true for the Bengals, a team that just agreed to a deal for the running back Khalil Herbert but is also known to be looking for defensive help.

The Giants added Brian Burns via trade this offseason, making it the league's third-most lucrative deal in terms of AAV ($28.2 million). Fifth overall pick in 2022 Kayvon Thibodeaux will be eligible for a major contract of his own as early as this spring, so committing to a second Ojulari contract could be a challenge from a squad-building perspective. The Georgia native recorded eight sacks as a rookie, but missed significant time in each of the next two seasons due to injuries. In 2024, he was available for all nine of the team's contests and recorded six sacks and ten pressures. Given the production, it is expected that offers will continue to come in throughout the day.