C.J. Okoye lands with the franchise of the man who discovered him

The Baltimore Ravens traded defensive lineman C.J. Okoye to the New York Giants on Saturday for a 2028 seventh-round pick, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported. The move clears one roster spot Baltimore needed before Sunday’s cut to 53 and hands New York a 6-foot-6, 370-pound interior lineman for the back end of a group that has been thin all summer.

Okoye spent last season playing for John Harbaugh, who is now in his first year coaching the Giants. He will also work again under Dennis Johnson, the Ravens defensive line coach who developed him and who followed Harbaugh to New York.

The Giants sent Baltimore the same 2028 seventh-rounder they received for offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu, moving on Saturday instead of waiting for Okoye to hit waivers.

Aug 7, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) pressured by Baltimore Ravens lineman C.J. Okoye (97) during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn ImagesWhat made the Giants move before waivers?

Okoye had been Baltimore’s second-string defensive tackle behind a group ESPN ranked second in the league, which is a difficult place to earn snaps and a straightforward reason to be available. He finished Friday’s preseason win over Washington with a tackle, a quarterback hit and a fumble recovery, and was traded hours later.

The #Ravens are trading defensive lineman C.J. Okoye to the #Giants in exchange for a 2028 7th round pick, per me and @MikeGarafolo.

An intriguing DL addition from the Nigerian player who signed through the International Player Pathway Program. pic.twitter.com/pSN5ceySB5

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2026

 

The path that brought him here started in Agbogugu, in Enugu State, where Okoye played professional basketball as a center before former NBA player Ejike Ugboaja spotted him and pointed him toward the Uprise camp run by Osi Umenyiora. Umenyiora, who spent a decade with the Giants and won two Super Bowls there, later explained his reasoning to ESPN’s Leonard Solms by saying the testing numbers looked ordinary because none of the players had done those drills before, and that Okoye separated himself once the competition started.

Okoye was named offensive MVP at the first NFL Africa Touchdown camp in Ghana in 2022, made the International Combine, trained at IMG Academy and was one of eight players allocated to NFL teams through the International Player Pathway Program in May 2023.

The Los Angeles Chargers moved him to defense. In his first organized football game, a preseason meeting with the Rams, he sacked Stetson Bennett and was given the game ball.

Jun 3, 2026; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh talks with media after organized team activities at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Two years on the Chargers practice squad followed.

Baltimore signed him to a reserve/futures deal in Jan 2025, promoted him from the practice squad in October when injuries opened a spot, and made him the first African graduate of the pathway program to play in an NFL regular-season game.

He appeared in 13 games, logged 214 defensive snaps and recorded 15 tackles with a pass breakup, then re-signed this offseason on a one-year deal worth $1 million.

In New York he slots behind Darius Alexander, which likely sends sixth-round rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis to the practice squad. Okoye will turn 25 on Oct. 20, and he will spend the season with the franchise Osi Umenyiora played for.

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