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Boogie Basham is the newest pass-rusher New York Giants’ defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale will get to include in his blitz calls. The versatile edge joined the Giants on Tuesday, August 29 after a trade with the Buffalo Bills, a deal that also spelled the end of a former third-round draft pick’s career with Big Blue.
Basham is in, but Oshane Ximines is out. The latter became one of the more prominent names included on cut day after NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the Basham trade.
Pelissero’s update was followed by ESPN’s Jordan Raanan confirming Ximines had been released.
Cutting Ximines represents something of an about turn for the Giants, who only re-signed the 26-year-old on a one-year deal back in May. In fairness, Basham offers more upside and flexibility.
This is the second low-cost deal to bolster defensive depth general manager Joe Schoen has made in a matter of days. He also acquired Isaiah Simmons from the Arizona Cardinals for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Giants Boosted Pass Rush at Bargain Price
Boosting the pass rush for the modest cost of “a swap of late-round picks in 2025,” per NorthJersey.com’s Art Stapleton, represents a true bargain for the Giants, even though Basham didn’t live up to expectations in Buffalo.
He’s registered just 4.5 sacks since being drafted in the second round back in 2021. One of those sacks came against the Indianapolis Colts in preseason and was highlighted by Nick Falato of SB Nation’s Big Blue View.
The play showcased solid hands technique and athletic range. Those qualities help Basham rush the passer as either a traditional defensive end with his hand in the dirt or as a standup outside linebacker.
Both of those things will suit Martindale’s creative and aggressive system. So will Basham’s ability to line up inside and wreck the pocket.
The 25-year-old played a lot of defensive tackle during his collegiate career at Wake Forest. His experience was highlighted by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, whose scouting report on Basham was retweeted by Brugler’s colleague Dan Duggan once this trade was made official.
As Brugler pointed out, Basham spent time “often reducing inside over the A-gap and or B-gap on passing downs.”
Putting Basham alongside bookend starters Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari increases how Martindale can attack quarterbacks this season. Thibodeaux should dominate in his second season, but he and Ojulari need to be spelled by quality depth.
Basham’s arrival is timely after the Giants cut three edge-rushers.
Giants Cleared the Decks at Edges of Defense
Ximines wasn’t the only edge-rusher let got by the Giants on cut day. Tomon Fox was also released, per Duggan, while undrafted free agent Habakkuk Baldonado followed him out the door, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Being let go is tough for all concerned, but as Stapleton detailed, Fox and Ximines hardly helped their cases after failing to generate heat against the New York Jets in preseason.
Generating consistent pressure has been a problem for Ximines ever since he entered the pros in 2019. Just 30 pressures in four seasons, per Pro Football Reference, underscores the deficiencies in Ximines’ game.
Fortunately, Basham has 17 pressures in just two years, so the Giants know they’ve acquired an obvious upgrade on the edge. In the process, a rotation headlined by Thibodeaux, Ojulari and Jihad Ward now looks a lot stronger.
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