Finding help on the trade market will be imperative for the San Francisco 49ers to get back on track to make a Super Bowl run.

There could also be an additional motivation for the 49ers to get active before the trade deadline: keeping a potential season-changing player away from an NFC West rival.

According to Diana Russini of Athletic, the New York Giants are turning to breakout star edge rusher Azeez Ojulari. One of the teams that keep in touch with them is the Arizona Cardinals, the NFC West’s leading Arizona Cardinals.

Through athletics:

Teams eyeing 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, so 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 injury.

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

The Cardinals are even more desperate for help on the defensive end. They rank 29th in the NFL in pressure rate according to Pro Football Reference and their 15 sacks rank 24th in the NFL. Getting a player like Ojulari could increase their chances of staying at the top of the division.

Maybe the 49ers aren’t interested in a trade or a bidding war for a defensive end. If it means keeping the Cardinals from strengthening their defense while improving their own chances of making the Super Bowl, they absolutely need to be involved.