Are the New York Giants planning to bring back Markus Golden on a multi-year deal?

New York Jets, Markus Golden
Oct 10, 2019; Foxborough, MA, USA; New York Giants linebacker Markus Golden (44) reacts after a sack on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

With the New York Giants altogether avoiding the pass rusher position aside from signing Kyler Fackrell to a one-year deal, the expectation is that GM Dave Gettleman will find a way to allocate more resources towards the spot.

It’s possible Gettleman waits until the NFL Draft to bolster the position. Still, the reality is, they currently have unproven talent tied to the scheme, which is an unadvisable mentality moving forward.

Currently, the OLB position consists of Fackrell, Oshane Ximines, and Lorenzo Carter, three players who have flashed potential but have been inconsistent. Ximines had a decent 2019 campaign (his rookie year), logging 4.5 sacks on 45% of defensive snaps. If you double his snap count, we can project a 9.0 sack season for Oshane, which would be stellar for his second-year in the NFL. The Giants may be counting on him to break out in 2020, but they cannot depend on him and Fackrell to act as their consistent pass rushers.

Are the New York Giants expecting to re-sign Markus Golden?

Considering Golden’s statistical output in 2019 and his overall quality, it’s strange that he’s still remaining on the free-agent market. Having put together a 10.0 sacks performance and displayed leadership qualities, Golden is a quality player who can be a vital piece to the Giants’ defensive front for years to come. I anticipate they will find space for him on the roster and sign him to a three-year deal with a front-loaded contract, similar to James Bradberry and Blake Martinez.

The Giants may be waiting until they re-work Leonard Williams’ franchise tag to a multi-year deal to then re-sign Golden, who, paired with a stout interior defensive line, can piece together another solid campaign this year. Williams is currently set to earn $16.126 million on the franchise tag, but the Giants are attempting to extend him and lower his cap-hit to $10-12 million with more guaranteed money.