The most important current free agent from the 2019 New York Giants team is likely pass rusher Markus Golden, who led the team in sacks and was one of the few players on last year’s defense to step up and put on a performance noticed by others around the league. However, the Giants haven’t come to a deal with Golden even after the start of free agency, and after many players have already signed, Golden is still keeping his options open.
According to Jordan Raanan, however, the deal isn’t off just because it hasn’t happened yet – the Giants still have their eyes on Golden, and Golden himself is supposedly “willing to be patient.”
The interest in Markus Golden is there. Price hasn’t been right to this point. But he’s willing to be patient. Giants among teams monitoring. After all, this is a player who had double-digit sacks. Was sixth in NFL w/27 QB hits + T-14th with 13 TFLs. Quality player on market.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) March 20, 2020
Golden is effectively the cheaper alternative to the other free agent that has been mentioned in regards to the Giants in recent days, Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney’s price may be lower due to lesser demand for his services on the open market than expected, but regardless, Golden will come out as the cheaper one between the two of them and therefore is better for the Giants’ cap situation.
But it still remains to be seen if the Giants will bring back Golden at all, or rely on new free agent signing Kyler Fackrell as well as, potentially, the more versatile Isaiah Simmons.
The latter would require them to spend the fourth overall pick on an outside linebacker rather than trading down, taking an offensive tackle, or both, which does cast some doubt on whether the Giants will get Simmons in the first place given their current needs. The offensive line right now has less depth than the defensive front, after all.
One thing is certain, however, as the Giants continue monitoring the Golden situation – if they do lose their top pass rusher from 2019, they better have a good enough replacement lined up, because taking a step back in this area could possibly leave the Giants around the bottom of the league in sacks… Again.