Osi Umenyiora Being Shopped

Jason DiCarlo
Contributor Written on April 17, 2010


According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN, the Giants are shopping DE Osi Umenyiora this off-season. Osi has publicly voiced his desire to be a starter, but last year he was mostly a back up. Coach Tom Coughlin said Osi had to "earn his playing time like everyone else". Osi who came back from season ending knee surgery in '08 was considered as the Giants best defender and best pass rusher. Now the Giants are shopping Osi in hopes of aquiring an extra pick in a deep draft.

Chris Mortensen names the Rams, Panthers, and surprisingly the Dolphins. Why would the Dolphins, led by Bill Parcells, trade away draft picks in a deep draft, like this upcoming draft on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., which they never do? Everyone was surprised when they traded picks for Brandon Marshall. Why would they trade for a DE/OLB that is coming off an injury just one year ago?

The reason is, Bill Parcells has been looking for a player to be his Demarcus Ware and Lawrence Taylor. He could always draft a guy he can call his own, or he could trade for an already proven pass rusher.

Osi would have to make a position change, but he is the perfect OLB that Parcells looks for. If the price isn't too high on Osi, and they would take a fourth round pick or even a pick next year, I could see Parcells and company close the deal. If the price is a second round pick, which Miami no longer has due to trading for No. 1 WR Brandon Marshall, then Miami will address the need for an OLB in Round 1 of the NFL Draft.

Miami always could swap first round picks with the Giants and move down to No. 15, which Miami is rumored to do anyways. The trade would most likely be No. 12 and a fifth round pick for No. 15 and Osi Umenyiora. (This isn't a real offer, just my opinion.)

According to Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald , he has received messages of Miami making another move "within the upcoming hours or days." Although he thinks it's a Ronnie Brown or Justin Smiley trade, I think it could be a trade for Osi Umenyiora.

Osi trade rumors flying
2:42PM ET
Osi Umenyiora | Giants | Interested: Panthers?, Dolphins?, Rams?
Top Email

Throughout this offseason, Osi Umenyiora has been upset in hindsight about his role for the New York Giants' D in 2009. At one point he threatened to retire if he was going to be used in the same way this upcoming season, although that was viewed as hyperbole. Then there was a report that Osi was back to being a happy camper as the team convened for voluntary workouts, but a lot of doubt has been cast on that report. We probably won't get the whole story unless and until Osi is no longer with the team.

Over the weekend, ESPN's Chris Mortensen tweeted that there is a 60-40 chance Umenyiora is traded, and on Monday, Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star-Ledger passed along word that the St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins have been mentioned as teams interested in the DE.

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter doesn't know exactly what's going to happen with Umenyiora either, but he does think that what the team does in the early rounds this weekend could give us a clue:

Adam Schefter

A lot of hypotheticals right now

"A lot could depend on what happens draft day. If they can get a pass rusher in the top two rounds, it opens the door for a potential deal for Osi. Think it's certainly in play, but no certainty it gets done."