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Markus Golden

Giants Place UFA Tender On Markus Golden

April 27th, 2020 at 5:50pm CST by Ben Levine

The Giants are using a rarely-used tender in an attempt to retain pass rusher Markus Golden. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that New York has slapped the linebacker/defensive end with a UFA tender.

Thanks to this transaction, Golden will only be eligible to play for the Giants if he remains unsigned past July 22nd (or the first day of training camp, whichever is later). Of course, this means that the 29-year-old still has almost three months to negotiate a contract with a new team, and he will still count towards the 2021 compensatory pick formula.

The former second-rounder showed flashes during his four seasons in Arizona, including a 12.5-sack campaign back in 2016. He caught on with the Giants last offseason, inking a one-year, $3.75MM deal. He proceeded to have one of the best seasons of his career, as he compiled 72 tackles and 10 sacks in a career-high 16 starts.

We heard earlier this month that Golden was unlikely to return to the Giants, with sources indicating the pass rusher was seeking “too much money.”

Giants Rumors: Clowney, Golden, Draft, Tomlinson

April 13th, 2020 at 7:17pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s the latest on the G-Men:

  • Lately, we’ve heard that the Giants aren’t looking to spend big on edge rushers. On Monday, GM Dave Gettleman more or less confirmed that he won’t pursue high-priced options like Jadeveon Clowney and Markus Golden are not in the plans. The Giants are “not in that position now,” Gettleman said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan). In a recent poll, just ~6% of PFR readers picked the Giants as Clowney’s next destination.
  • The GM also noted the presence of younger players in-house – guys like Evan Engram, Jabrill Peppers, Saquon Barkley, and Dalvin Tomlinson – who will need new deals soon. There’s only so much cap room to go around and the Giants will need to save those dollars to keep their best. “You can’t manufacture (pass rush), and you can’t overpay for it,” Gettleman said (via Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com). “So, what it really comes down to is it’s not about who gets the sacks, it’s about how many sacks we get. Really, how much pressure you apply. Some of this is going to have to come through scheme. Obviously we haven’t gone to the draft yet. I feel with where we’re at, would I want two guys to have a 25-sack year? Who doesn’t? But we’re not in that position right now so we’ll just keep building it.”
  • Gettleman also told reporters that he likes the depth of this year’s tackle class (Twitter link via Raanan). Raanan took those comments to mean that the Giants are targeting tackles early in the draft, and Paul Schwartz of the New York Post got the same impression. For now, the Giants hold the No. 4 pick in the draft, though they’ve entertained the possibility of trading back.

Giants Unlikely To Re-Sign Markus Golden

April 2nd, 2020 at 1:39pm CST by Zachary Links

There probably won’t be a reunion for the Giants and Markus Golden. The linebacker’s asking price has scared away the incumbent G-Men – and other pass rushing clubs – leaving him in no-man’s land in the latter stages of free agency, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan hears. 

After notching ten sacks in 2019, Golden expected lavish offers in free agency. However, sounds like he’ll have to temper his expectations before finding a home.

“[He’s asking for] too much money,” sources have told Raanan.

Golden showed that he’s back in full force with a performances reminiscent of his best days in Arizona, before the serious knee injury in 2017. He placed sixth in the league in quarterback hits (27) and placed in the top 15 with 13 tackles for a loss. A deeper look, however, reveals some warts – ranked just 73rd among edge rushers with 26 total pressures, an indication that his sack total may have been something of a fluke.

In the last few weeks, the Giants have signed outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell and it doesn’t sound like they’re looking to make any sort of edge rush splash beyond that. Jadeveon Clowney, who also overestimated his market, is not on the Giants’ radar either, according to Raanan. Instead, they’re likely to focus on cheaper options like Cameron Wake, Jabaal Sheard, and Vinny Curry.

Latest On Giants’ Markus Golden

March 5th, 2020 at 9:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent edge rusher Markus Golden has interest in re-signing with the Giants, but it sounds as though he wants to first reach free agency in order to test his market value, as Josina Anderson of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link).

With the free agent period fewer than two weeks away, it probably doesn’t make much sense for Golden — or any other pending free agent — to ink an extension without at least exploring the potential market. Last offseason, Golden garnered interest from multiple teams before landing a one-year, $3.75MM deal with New York.

In his first season with the Giants, Golden experienced something of a resurgence by starting all 16 games and posting 10 sacks. However, that sack total is a bit of a mirage, as Golden ranked just 73rd among edge rushers with 26 total pressures, per Pro Football Focus. Converting that limited number of pressures into double-digit sacks is likely an unrepeatable task.

Golden, who turns 29 next week, spent the first four years of his career with the Cardinals after being selected in the second round of the 2015 draft. He put up 12.5 sacks in 2016, but after a torn ACL ended his 2017 campaign, Golden wasn’t able to regain his pass-rushing ways until joining the Giants.

NFC East Notes: Dak, Howard, Giants

December 26th, 2019 at 5:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dak Prescott bet on himself and will finish with statistical benchmarks in several categories this season — including touchdown passes (26) and passing yards (4,599). The fourth-year Cowboys quarterback has a good chance of eclipsing his previous single-season passing high by over 1,000 yards. Despite Dallas’ disappointing season, team brass remain bullish on a long-term Dak re-up. Prescott and the Cowboys have been negotiating for months.

“I’m just not surprised,” Prescott said, via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams, of the lack of a new contract. “… It’s the business. It’s my first time going through it. Not surprised by anything that comes from it — from the league, from the team, from whatever. Learning as I go.”

With March 10 being the deadline for franchise tenders to be applied, the Cowboys not reaching an extension with their quarterback opens the door to the prospect of tagging Prescott and letting Amari Cooper hit free agency. As of now, with no CBA in place, teams would be permitted to use both their franchise and transition tags come March. Just as they were throughout this past summer, the Cowboys’ negotiations will be a key component of the upcoming offseason.

One of two divisions still up for grabs, the NFC East features the Eagles and Cowboys vying for the division’s 50th championship. Here is the latest from the two contending teams, along with the Giants and Redskins.

  • With the Eagles cutting Jay Ajayi, the expectation was they’d have Jordan Howard back in the fold for Week 17. But that’s not necessarily the case. The fourth-year back met with doctors on Thursday, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, who adds Howard has not yet been cleared for contact (Twitter link). Howard has not played since Week 9 due to a shoulder injury. The Eagles are using Miles Sanders and Boston Scott as their primary backs, but Howard was the team’s rushing leader before going down.
  • The Redskins have already seen several starters’ seasons end early; they may see their breakout wide receiver miss the season finale as well. Terry McLaurin is in Washington’s concussion protocol, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. McLaurin (919 receiving yards) is just seven yards away from Gary Clark‘s 34-year-old franchise record for most by a rookie. A loss to Dallas would lock Washington in the No. 2 draft slot, which could well be Ohio State edge-rushing dynamo Chase Young.
  • Markus Golden‘s value-reestablishing Giants season included another positive development for the contract-year pass rusher. A stat correction turned a Golden half-sack into a full sack, giving him 10 for the season and a $1MM incentive bonus, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. The Giants gave Golden a one-year, $3.75MM deal this offseason. After two lost seasons, due largely to a 2017 ACL tear, Golden has his second 10-plus-sack campaign. He profiles as a Giants extension candidate and an intriguing UFA pass rusher, should he hit the market.

Contract Details: Williams, Webb, Verrett

March 15th, 2019 at 2:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest particulars in recently agreed-upon contracts, courtesy of the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson (unless otherwise noted).

Contract Details: Funchess, LaCosse, Golden

March 15th, 2019 at 1:09pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted contract notes from around the NFL:

  • Devin Funchess, WR (Colts): One year, $10MM. $7MM guaranteed via roster bonus. $3MM base salary. $3MM in incentives for receptions, receiving yards, TDs, Pro Bowl, All-Pro. Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star.
  • Tyrann Mathieu, S (Chiefs): Three years, $42MM. $26.8MM guaranteed, $14.8MM signing bonus. Base salaries: $850K (2019), $1.15MM (2020), $14.5MM (2021, nonguaranteed). Details via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
  • K.J. Wright, LB (Seahawks): Two years, up to $15MM (original story). $8MM in 2019, including $5MM signing bonus, $1.5MM base salary, $1.5MM roster bonus. Second year isn’t guaranteed. Twitter link via ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
  • Matt LaCosse, TE (Patriots): Two years, $2MM, $500K guaranteed for 2019 (original story). Base salaries: $700K (2019), $1MM (2020). $300K signing bonus, $25K per-game bonus. $500K in playing time/receptions incentives. Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate.
  • Markus Golden, LB (Giants): One year. Worth up to $4.75MM, $2.225MM guaranteed. Twitter link via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
  • Cameron Fleming, OT (Cowboys): Two years, $8.5MM. 2019: $1MM base salary, $1.5MM signing bonus, $2.25MM cap number. $300K for 60-percent playing time, $600K for 70-percent. Twitter link via ESPN’s Todd Archer.
  • Bruce Ellington, WR (Patriots): One year, $25K guaranteed. Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

Giants To Sign Markus Golden

March 14th, 2019 at 5:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants have agreed to a one-year deal with edge rusher Markus Golden, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Golden will leave the Cardinals to follow former Arizona defensive coordinator James Bettcher to New York. At only 28 years of age, Golden had developed a market in free agency, with the Raiders, Buccaneers, and Chiefs all expressing various levels of interest.

In 2016, Golden notched 12.5 sacks for the Cardinals. Unfortunately, a torn ACL ended his 2017 campaign early and cost him time in 2018. He managed to return for eleven games last year, but he wasn’t the same player – Golden had just 2.5 sacks and 30 tackles and graded out as one of the lowest-ranked edge defenders in the league, per Pro Football Focus.

Golden should get plenty of opportunities to rush the passer in New York. No other Giants player has posted more than 10 career sacks, and Big Blue finished 31st in adjusted sack rate a year ago.

Multiple Teams Showing Interest In Markus Golden

March 14th, 2019 at 11:03am CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders are among several teams who have shown interest in former Cardinals edge rusher Markus Golden, according to Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area (on Twitter). Golden has already fielded multiple offers and he’s currently weighing his options. The Buccaneers are also interested in Golden’s services (Twitter link via Jenna Laine of ESPN.com), and Vic Tafur tweets that the Chiefs are in on him as well, as they seek to strengthen a suddenly depleted pass rush.

The Raiders have been extremely active in March, but they could still use some additional firepower in the pass rush department. Golden would help on that front, though the Raiders are still expected to address that area in the draft next month. The Bucs are in better shape as far as pass rushers are concerned, but they still ranked in the bottom half of the league in total sacks last year and were one of the worst teams against the pass.

In 2016, Golden notched 12.5 sacks for the Cardinals. Unfortunately, a torn ACL ended his 2017 campaign early and cost him time in 2018. He managed to return for eleven games last year, but he wasn’t the same player – Golden had just 2.5 sacks and 30 tackles and graded out as one of the lowest-ranked edge defenders in the league, per Pro Football Focus.

The Giants and defensive coordinator James Bettcher also reportedly have Golden on the radar, which Tafur confirmed.

Extra Points: Golden, Jackson, Marshall

March 11th, 2019 at 1:53pm CST by Rory Parks

Here’s the latest from around the NFL:

  • The Giants have interest in Cardinals free agent Markus Golden, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). As per usual, free agent pass rushers are expected to cash in big, so Golden could be looking at a substantial deal. Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher coached Golden in Arizona in 2016 when he notched 12.5 sacks, so it’s a logical fit.
  • The Broncos placed a call on Malik Jackson after his release from Jacksonville, a source close to the player tells Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). However, the Broncos didn’t really need Jackson, and they have placed a greater emphasis on finding a nose tackle. Jackson, of course, inked a three-year, $30MM deal with the Eagles this morning.
  • Five teams are interested in Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, according to ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson (on Twitter). As previously reported, Marshall’s option for 2019 will not be exercised.
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