The New York Giants sent a 2028 seventh-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday in exchange for defensive lineman C.J. Okoye, a 6-foot-6, 365-pound space eater they are in dire need of.
Head coach John Harbaugh, who coached Okoye last year in Baltimore, gave reporters a quick rundown of the native Nigerian who entered the NFL in 2023 with the Los Angeles Chargers through the International Player Pathway Program.
"He's a guy that we got to know recently, last year. Came in and was with the Chargers, actually with my brother, for a couple of years in the international program," Harbaugh said. "So, a guy who had been a developmental-type guy, learning the game and tremendous physical skills, hard worker. Really dedicated himself over the last few
years to learning the game, really, because he didn't get it growing up. And made great strides, made great strides with Dennis Johnson, our defensive line coach, last year. That's where he kind of broke through and had a really good season.
"We see him as an inside defender, defensive tackle, A-gap, B-gap player, run stopper, pocket pusher in terms of the pass game, and just a real big, physical player. So, kind of a type of guy we've been looking for, and we're really excited to get him up here. Funny story, he was on the train today -- just now, actually. He’s still on the train because he didn't get off at Newark. He went all the way through to New York. As we all know, that's easy to do, right? So, he's on his way back from New York as we speak."
3 plays in a row for Giants DT CJ Okoye (#91) pic.twitter.com/2N3rDzbu59
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) August 29, 2026
Okoye played in 13 games with the Ravens last season, making 15 total tackles, one for a loss, and a QB hit.
He was first scouted by former Giants great Osi Umenyiora, who runs a camp that develops foreign-born players.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' John Harbaugh: C.J. Okoye is 'type of guy we've been looking for'
