Getty Giants trade DE/OLB Markus Golden.
After much debate regarding the deadline placed on Markus Golden’s UFA tender, it appears the New York Giants have indeed retained his rights, as ESPN has since confirmed.
Yet, while the idea of Golden once again suiting up for the G-Men this season has grown exponentially over the past 24-plus hours, it’s still far from set in stone. While Golden is now only permitted to sign a contract with the Giants for the 2020 season, he does have an option of not putting pen to paper, a scenario that appears plausible at the moment, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
With the deadline passing for OLB Markus Golden to sign with another team, the player does not plan to sign his unrestricted ‘May 5’ tender with the Giants today, per source.
If Golden were to go past Week 10 of the 2020 regular season without signing a deal with New York, he would then be forced to sit out the remainder of the year. Sitting out would allow him to hit free agency in 2021. However, considering how things played out for him on the open market this time around, it’s likely not the best play.
Golden likely still holds a bit of a grudge for the way his offseason has played out following a dominant 2019 campaign. With that said, if he plans on playing football this coming season, he will need to sign the contract in front of him, as there are no negotiations needed.
Fowler noted that “the tender works like a franchise tag and he can wait to sign. He’s set to make $4.125 million with NYG.”
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Golden, a Bargain Get for the Giants
Golden’s free-agency market never materialized the way it should have this offseason.
The outside linebacker took a prove-it deal with Big Blue last offseason following a number of injury-plagued seasons with the Cardinals. All Golden did after that was put together one of the most dominant seasons by a Giants edge defender in recent memory.
Golden appeared in all 16 games for New York last season, leading the team with 10 sacks, marking the first Giants defender to record double-digit sacks since Jason Pierre-Paul (12.5) back in 2014.
The 29-year-old’s production went well past just his sack numbers, as he also ranked within the top 15 league-wide in both tackles for loss and quarterback hits.
The Giants showed their hand this offseason in their perceived value of Golden. While his numbers were impressive, he’s not a player they’re willing to build around. With that said, adding him back into the fold along with the likes of highly intriguing second-year player Oshane Ximines and free-agent addition Kyler Fackrell adds a massive influx of talent and experience to one of the more highly-questioned position groups on the roster.
It also doesn’t hurt Big Blue’s case that Golden’s confusing lack of interest on the open market has only “motivated” him further, according to the New York Post.
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Giants’ Markus Golden Could Sit Out, ‘Does Not Plan to Sign’ Tender: Report