The New York Giants have signed free agent linebacker Markus Golden to a one-year deal, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
Big Blue has added to the depth of their pass-rush.
On Thursday, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the New York Giants have signed free-agent LB Markus Golden. Golden previously played for the Arizona Cardinals from 2015-2018. He played for current Giants DC James Bettcher in Arizona from 2015-2017.
In 2019, Golden will be a fifth-year veteran out of the University of Missouri. At Missouri, the linebacker was named to the All-SEC second-team in 2014 and was the MVP of the Citrus Bowl in 2015.
Source: AZCardinals pass-rusher Markus Golden is signing a 1-year deal with the #Giants.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2019
Through 11 games in 2018, Golden had 30 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks and two passes defended for the Cardinals. Dealing with injuries, he only played in four games during the 2017 regular season.
However, Golden did rack up career-highs in combined tackles and sacks in 2015, with 51 and 12.5 respectively.
The deal is only for one year, so if Golden proves he works well in the system, especially with the previous connection with Bettcher, he could potentially sign a longer deal in the 2020 offseason.
Golden will be adding to the Giants pass-rush, which lost two members this offseason. The Giants released LB Connor Barwin in February and traded LB Olivier Vernon to the Browns last Friday.
He will be playing alongside linebackers Alec Ogletree as well as promising second-year man Lorenzo Carter. The latter could end up starting this year for the Giants. Carter appeared in 15 games for Big Blue however only had two starts.
Golden will additionally be joining Giants LB Kareem Martin, who’s also a former Cardinal linebacker. Martin played for Arizona from 2014-2017. He played each of the four seasons under Bettcher, who was originally the outside linebackers coach from 2013-2014.
Here’s to hoping that Golden brings great depth to this depleting pass-rush, and also proves he’s still a good asset to have on an NFL defense.
