The Giants didn’t wait around to fix their defensive line before the roster cuts hit. Saturday saw the team obtain defensive tackle CJ Okoye from the Baltimore Ravens, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. This deal sends a 2028 seventh-round pick to Baltimore.
It solves a specific need for interior depth right now. The 24-year-old Okoye played under head coach John Harbaugh last season in Baltimore. He recorded 15 tackles and one tackle for loss in 13 games last year. At 6-foot-6 and 365 pounds, he brings a massive size to the middle of the field.
A Familiar Face for Harbaugh
This trade brings another former Raven to MetLife Stadium. Okoye joins a growing list of players like Isaiah Likely and Jordan Stout who know the new coaching staff. The Giants needed this familiarity to fill a gap on the interior line. They got a pick from Kansas City earlier in the week for Joshua Ezeudu, which gave them the extra selection to use here. This move shows the front office is willing to trade future assets for immediate help. The team was short on depth before this deal. Now they have a player who has already run the system.
The OBJ Decision Looms
While the defense gets a boost, the offense faces a final test for Odell Beckham Jr. Training camp and preseason are over after the Giants beat the Jets 23-6 on Friday night. Coach John Harbaugh believes the veteran receiver has earned his spot. “Yes, he has done enough to make an NFL roster, for sure,” Harbaugh said, according to ESPN. He added that Beckham has gotten better as camp went along and deserves credit for his work. Odell Beckham Jr. recorded three receptions totaling 53 yards in the game versus the Jets. He almost scored on a 73-yard play but a pass from backup Jameis Winston fell incomplete.
Beckham hit 20.54 mph on that play, the second-fastest speed in the game. He insists he can reach 21 mph soon. The deadline for final roster cuts is 6 p.m. ET Sunday. Beckham knows what is on the line. “It would mean everything to me if I made it,” Beckham said. He wants to be a good example for his 4-year-old son. The Giants needed to see if he was healthy and capable. He hasn’t missed a practice all summer. He proved he can get open consistently.
The Final Cut Deadline
The Giants have a clear plan for their roster. They added Okoye to shore up the defense. They are leaning toward keeping Beckham to shore up the offense. Earlier this week, Harbaugh stated that Beckham enjoyed his “best week” during camp. The coach does not want to name every player who will stay yet. But the signs point toward keeping the former first-round pick. The team signed him in the spring with the idea that he had to earn his spot. He appears to have done just that. The decision rests on how the final cuts go.
