The 49ers have to beat their division rival to trade for breakout star DE

In order for the San Francisco 49ers to get back on track and pull off a Super Bowl victory, finding help on the trade market is essential.

There may also be additional motivation for the 49ers to take action before the trade deadline: keeping a potential season-changer away from an NFC West rival.

The New York Giants are accepting breakout star edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, according to the Athletic's Diana Russini. One of the teams that remains in touch with them is the Arizona Cardinals, who are at the top of the NFC West.

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Teams keeping tabs on the 24-year-old include the Falcons, Cardinals and Bengals. The Giants are already paying Brian Burns and spent a top-five pick on Kayvon Thibodeaux. With Ojulari set to hit free agency after the season, GM Joe Schoen is now trying to get something in return for him.

Ojulari has 19 pressures and 6.0 sacks in eight games this season after his 2022 and 2023 seasons were cut short due to injuries.

He's not a particularly effective run stopper, but the 49ers desperately need help in the pass rush. Ojulari would quickly bolster a defensive end group that hasn't produced much production outside of Nick Bosa.

The Cardinals are even more desperate for help on defense. According to Pro Football Reference, they rank 29th in the NFL in pressure percentage, and their 15 sacks rank 24th in the NFL. Signing a player like Ojulari could help increase their chances of staying at the top of the division.

Maybe the 49ers aren't interested in making a trade or engaging in a bidding war for a defensive end. However, if the goal is to keep the Cardinals from strengthening their defense while increasing their own Super Bowl chances, they should definitely get involved.