And why I now grade the trade an A-
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been watching the tapes of the purported edge rushers who were likely going to be traded by 4 PM ET today.
Surprise, surprise, Baron Browing was available!
TBH, slept on Baron Browning bc I didn’t think DEN would trade him being in the playoff hunt. I did however watch his tape and he was quickest and most bendable edge I watched. He and the angular, slippery Arden Key stood out. Watched whole game of Ojulari vs WAS feeling meh.
— Walter B J Mitchell (@WBJMItch) November 4, 2024
I think that Giants’ GM Joe Schoen made a mistake by playing Azeez Ojulari this past week. His stock was likely not going to ever be higher than what it was after their Steelers’ game on MNF where Azeez notched his 5th and 6th sacks of the season.
That two sack performance by Ojulari had me glued to the Giants’ game at home versus the Commanders. And I imagine that every team interested in Ojuari did what I did (and perhaps you did?) —- as in watch Ojulari’s every snap vs the Commanders.
Problem was, Ojulari did not answer the bell. He often looked tentative. He had 0 sacks, 1 tackle, 1 assist and 3 missed tackles. amidst a disappointing loss. Coming into the game I was thinking he might be worthy of a 4th round pick —- yet, after the game, I thought not higher than a 6th. Plus, I had a hunch that any trade for Ojulari, because of this week’s meh performance and the Giants purportedly lofty price tag, might come right down to the 4 pm deadline.
Reddick Comp (RAS):
When we learned that the Cardinals had instead traded for Baron Browning, some bells went off. Back when I was watching his tape, I thought of the Reddick comp:
I think that Baron Browning is the most comparable talent to Haason Reddick of the edge rushers on the trade market. This analysis of his physical abilities and Combine measurables (4.56 40) is fantastic: https://t.co/TQs7TzG0wW
— Walter B J Mitchell (@WBJMItch) November 4, 2024
Azeez: 6-3, 240, 4.61 40, 7.21 3-co, 30″ vert. 26 reps
Baron: 6-3, 240, 4.55 40, 6.78 3-co, 40″ vert., 23 reps
Haason: 6-2, 237, 4.52 40, 7.01 3-co, 36.” vert. ,24 reps
Raw Athleticism Scores (RAS): Azeez 8.6, Baron 9.8, Haason 9.0— Walter B J Mitchell (@WBJMItch) November 4, 2024
And then it dawned on me —- Baron Browning could be the ideal type of uber-athlete to play opposite strongman Zaven Collins. Thus, what it gives the Cardinals:
- SOLB: Zaven Collins, Victor Dimukeje —- BULLS
- WOLBL Baron Browning, Xavier Thomas —- CHEETAHS
Bumping the Trade Garde:
Having been asked on Twitter what grade I would give the Browning trade, I initially gave it a B+. But then when I thought of the symmetry of the BULLS and CHEETAHS and thought of how timely it was for Monti to get the trade done early on Monday rather than have to wait around for the Giants, I upped the grade to A-.
Bumping Monti’s trade grade for Baron Browning to A- in light of not waiting around for NYG possibly another day (and maybe getting zero) and already having BB on a quick flight from DEN to ARI, with a good chance to introduce him to Aaron Rodgers this weekend. Plus, 9.8 RAS guys…
— Walter B J Mitchell (@WBJMItch) November 4, 2024
You know how JG and Nick Rallis love to play fast and get to the ball on a dime —- which they have been missing at WOLB without Dennis Gardeck —- to add a quick edge rusher and 3-down WOLB with a 9.8 RAS —- could potentially be a gold mine.
“The character is gonna fit right in and I love the skill set, what he showed in college and what he’s shown so far in the NFL.”
Arizona Cardinals DC Nick Rallis on newly acquired OLB Baron Browning. pic.twitter.com/5M2bchoEKv
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) November 5, 2024
Azeez to AZ in 2025?
Hey, if Azeez gets back on a roll, who knows about next year? He becomes a 2025 UFA while the Giants all-in on Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibedeau.
As of 3:56 ET:
The #Giants will retain LB Azeez Ojulari, per @MikeGarafolo pic.twitter.com/I8KAUNWkWn
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 5, 2024
Per @MikeGarafolo “Barring a significant pivot by 4p Eastern, the New York Giants will retain LB Azeez Ojulari. They’d made it clear they weren’t going to give him away and held firm.”
— The AZ sports fan! (@TheAZsportsfan1) November 5, 2024