markus golden

New York Giants will likely push for prized free agent pass rusher

by
New York Giants, Yannick Ngakoue

During New York Giants‘ GM Dave Gettleman’s final interview with Joe and Evan, he stated that everybody east of the west coast knows the Giants need more quality pass rushers. Last season, they had Markus Golden, who tallied double-digit sacks, but beyond his production, there’s nothing to write home about.

Lorenzo Carter showed up towards the end of the campaign, finishing with 4.5 sacks, and Oshane Ximines logged 4.5 as well. Combined, they don’t even reach Golden’s number (10.0), who put up high numbers in a contract year. However, the Giants need more, which is where Yannick Ngakoue enters the frame.

The Jacksonville Jaguar is keen on taking his talents to the free agency market, where he’s prepared to cash in on a big deal, likely worth over $16 million per season. The Giants have the cap space and require another elite pass rusher if they want their defense to compete in 2020.

Adding Ngakoue and retaining Golden would put the team in a good spot, as it would allow them to work around losing Chase Young in the NFL Draft and pluck an elite linebacker like Isaiah Simmons off the board. They could also trade back and collect assets, waiting to select an offensive tackle.

There are plenty of options in the draft for Big Blue, who currently hold the No. 4 overall pick, but they need to have a successful free agency period to ensure their strategy is correct for the draft.

What would Yannick Ngakoue bring to the New York Giants?

The former Jaguar had a monster 2019 campaign, logging 8.0 sacks, 41 total tackles, four forced fumbles, one interception, 15 QB hits, and 13 tackles for a loss. His ability to get after the quarterback and put essential pressure on the pocket is well documented, and with a top-line interior defensive to help maximize his qualities, the Giants could be in line to rejuvenate their defense this offseason.

New York Giants news, 12/28 – One player the Giants must re-sign for the future

by
New York Jets, Markus Golden

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

When the New York Giants initially signed linebacker Markus Golden to a one-year, “prove it” deal, they didn’t imagine he would be quite as productive as he was this season. Logging 10.0 sacks after a stat correction, triggering a $1 million incentive, Golden is now the first double-digit sack producer in years for the Giants.

Retaining him should be a priority, as his intensity on the field and positive presence in the locker room are both essential factors that have contributed to the minimal silver linings the Giants have enjoyed this season.

Rounding out Golden’s complete stat-line, his 10.0 sacks only cracks the surface on his overall production. Factor in the 65 combined tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, and 27 QB hits, and you have a justifiable case to keep Golden around for a few more years.

What would a reasonable contract look like?

If the Giants are interested in extending an offer to the former Cardinal, a three-year, $33 million deal seems reasonable, considering his one season of production. The last time he has contributed more than 2.5 sacks in a season was back in the year of 2016.

However, this all depends on the coaching staff and if James Bettcher will be kept for another season. If the New York Giants transition back to a 4-3 scheme, Golden’s services cannot be depended on. Before finalizing any extensions or considering any free agent signings, the Giants need to solve their coaching issues, starting with head coach Pat Shurmur.

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day:

Jordan Raanan – Giants LB Markus Golden earns $1 million bonus after stat change

Alexander Wilson – Are the New York Giants preparing to let Nate Solder go in 2020?

Giants.com – Defense gameplans for explosive Eagles’ offense

Steve Serby – Giants can look to Jets for reason to clean house
Art Stapleton – NY Giants: Is this the final countdown on Pat Shurmur and Dave Gettleman?

New York Giants: 3 cut candidates for the 2020 offseason

by
New York Giants, Alec Ogletree

With the New York Giants hosting the Philadephia Eagles in the final game of the regular season, the conclusion of the year is near and will accompany changes to the coaching staff and roster. Week 17 should give the Giants a good idea of who’s expendable and who should be retained if the rest of the regular season hasn’t been indicative of specific players’ performances already.

Several former free agent signings from 2019 have had solid campaigns, likely earning secondary contracts or the ever-glowing idea of retention. Outside linebacker Markus Golden is one of those lucky players who has racked up 10 sacks and proved their worth to upper management. I anticipate that Golden will receive a second offer from the Giants, as pairing him with another premium edge rusher would give the defense the fire-power they need to climb the ranks in 2020.

However, others have not lived up to expectations since GM Dave Gettleman’s inception in New York.

Here are three cut candidate for the New York Giants:

1.) Alec Ogletree

Cutting Ogletree should be a priority immediately after the conclusion of the season. His lack of production over the past two seasons and missed tackles has been apparent, and with Ryan Connelly taking his spot in just one offseason as a rookie should provide enough evidence to justify his release.

Ogletree hoped that changing his number from 52 to 47 would give him the hopeful boost he needed to save himself from the inevitable, but his last-ditch attempt fell short. He will likely hit the market and end up as a reserve elsewhere. Cutting him will count $3.5 million in dead cap, but retaining him would force the Giants to pay out $11.75 million in salary. This is an easy decision for Gettleman.

2.) Nate Solder

Since the Giants have fallen out of Chase Young territory, they may elect to solidify the offensive line with Georgia tackle, Andrew Thomas.

Solder has had a disastrous year in blue, and his child having cancer hasn’t helped his psyche. It’s fair to give Solder the benefit of the doubt based on the critical nature of his situation, but the Giants have to consider their franchise quarterback’s protection scheme.

If Gettleman cuts Solder, he will count $13 million against the cap but would allow the injection of talent into the left tackle position. By keeping him, they would pay out $19.5 million in cap. They would only save $6.5 million by cutting him, which might be a deterrent. Theoretically, the Giants could move Solder over to the right tackle spot and draft Thomas to fill the void.

3.) Leonard Williams

Williams is headed into free agency in 2020, but the Giants will have the first opportunity to re-sign him. This wouldn’t be considered a “cut,” but rather a departure. The former Jet has been essential to the Giants’ run-stopping game, but his lack of a pass rush has been apparent.

Gettleman will have to overpay for Williams’ services moving forward. If they re-sign him, the Giants will forfeit a third-round pick rather than a fourth-rounder, as constituted in the trade. Consider this as you will.

The New York Giants Need To Extend Markus Golden

by
New York Giants, Markus Golden

The New York Giants‘ defense has been one of the NFL’s worst this season, once again. Overall, the team has not had a high sack total, ranking in the bottom half of the league with 32 team sacks on the season. But the team’s defense is not without a few strong individual performances.

Rookie defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence has been impressive. Dalvin Tomlinson has also performed well this season, too. But the biggest surprise on the Giants’ defense in 2019 has been edge rusher Markus Golden.

Markus Golden Has Exceeded Expectations in 2019

This past offseason, the New York Giants signed Markus Golden to a one-year deal worth $3,750,000. This was an inexpensive contract for a player the Giants did not necessarily expect to be an impact player. But Markus Golden has exceeded all expectations in 2019 and should be extended by New York long-term this offseason.

Markus Golden leads the Giants in sacks this season with 9 total through 14 games. The sack total might not be astronomical, but the advanced stats indicate that Golden has been in the opponents’ backfields very often. Markus has generated 39 quarterback pressures, and 14 quarterback hurries with 24 knockdowns.

The former Arizona Cardinal has been generating massive amounts of pressure for the New York Giants’ defense. He might not be a game-wrecking pass-rusher, and the Giants should still look to upgrade the position (I’m looking at you, Chase Young). But as all Giants fans should know, you can never have enough pass-rushers (see the 2007-2008 Super Bowl champion New York Giants), and Markus Golden can, at the very least, be New York’s second pass-rusher.

Markus Golden Wants To Be Back

Markus Golden has been an impactful player for the New York Giants this season. He has given them every reason to want him back in 2020 and beyond. And that’s precisely what Markus Golden wants.

The Giants have not begun discussing an extension with Markus Golden yet, but when asked by Newsday, Markus made it clear that he would “love” to return. Here’s more of what Markus had to say about his time and future with Big Blue:

“It’s been great being here competing,” he said. “Of course it’s been a down year, but at the end of the day, everybody here has been great people. Everybody is trying to do whatever they can do to win. I know everybody here wants to win. That’s a good sign because I want to make sure I’m able to win.” -Markus Golden via Newsday.com

Giants fans also received confirmation from Markus Golden’s father that he wants to return via Twitter:

The New York Giants will have to make a decision on Markus Golden next month. The edge rusher has exceeded all expectations this season and played some solid football. Golden and his family are interested in wearing blue again next year, and the Giants should be interested in bringing him back, too.

What the New York Giants defensive line could look like in 2020

by

Establishing a dominant defensive front is essential to success in the NFL, and New York Giants GM Dave Gettleman has made that a priority since his hiring two years ago. Drafting Dexter Lawrence, trading for Leonard Williams, and signing Markus Golden were all significant decisions that were aimed towards the development of the trenches and stopping the run.

Lawrence, who was the Giants’ 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has had a stellar rookie campaign, logging 35 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 9 QB hits. He has been double-teamed frequently, considering his 342LB frame. Injecting Williams to pair with Lawrence has elevated the Giants’ defense to 6th in the league in stopping the run (past four games).

Rounding out the defensive line is part of the old-school mentality Gettleman brings to the Giants, and we should anticipate a 2020 offseason designed to establish a top unit in the NFL further.

What would the New York Giants be getting in Chase Young?

Realistically, the Giants are within striking distance of Ohio State standout Chase Young, who has racked up 16.5 sacks in 11 games. Factor in his 21 tackles for a loss, and you have one of the best pass rush prospects the draft has seen in several years. Teams often triple-team Young as a method of beating the Ohio State defense, and even then, he manages to leave his mark.

Adding Young to the Giants’ defense would instantly give them an impact player at the outside linebacker position. If they elect to retain Markus Golden, who currently has nine sacks on the year, they would have two elite pass-rushing options. It would be impossible for opposing offensive coordinators to compensate for Young, Golden, Lawrence, Williams, and Dalvin Tomlinson in the trenches. There’s also the possibility Gettleman pursue Yannick Ngakoue to replace Williams, considering his lack of sacks.

This is likely where Gettleman is going with his rebuild; establishing a robust run-stopping presence but also have top pass rushers to disrupt the quarterback. Infuse two quality linebackers and a few capable corners into the defense, and suddenly, you have a unit worth talking about.

New York Giants: What a win against the Washington Redskins means for the Giants

by

The New York Giants desperately needed a victory over the Miami Dolphins in week 15, and by the good graces of Eli Manning and Co., the team secured their third of the season. In what was probably Manning’s final game as a Giant, ensuring he went out on the right note was essential.

The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback can now sit back and relax as his legacy is finally rounded out with a victory, and luckily, it didn’t affect the Giants’ place in the 2020 NFL Draft.

However, a win against the Washington Redskins in week 17 would be devastating to the team’s chances of landing generational pass-rusher Chase Young next offseason. Still, it would subsequently elevate the rookies on the team who are dying for a taste of continued success.

There are changes on the horizon for Big Blue, as head coach Pat Shurmur could be on the chopping block, and GM Dave Gettleman is running out of time to prove his worth. Firing Shurmur would force the Giants to adapt to another offensive system, which might be a positive thing considering the underutilization of Saquon Barkley and the demise of the offensive line. The coaching staff will undoubtedly see changes moving forward, but I anticipate Gettleman receiving at least one more season to complete his rebuild. Generally, it takes three years for a rebuild to show progress, especially when it requires the entire overhaul of a given team and the search for a franchise quarterback.

The New York Giants need a top-notch pass-rusher:

Another vital piece to the puzzle is at the pass-rush position. While Markus Golden has been reliable this season, logging nine sacks, the defense needs another premium talent to impose problematic situations for opposing defensive coordinators. Chase Young is the perfect fit to make that wish a reality.

Ultimately, it all boils down to how the Giants finish the next two games. They are currently slotted in at the No. 2 spot behind the Cincinnati Bengals, and a win would push them down multiple places, likely out of Young range. However, it would help the mental development of the team’s youth. Pick your poison.

New York Giants week 13: 3 players up and 3 players down

by
New York Giants, Antoine Bethea

Most didn’t predict the New York Giants would overcome the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in a Week 13 matchup littered by snowflakes and rain. Not even Michael Strahan could find the confidence within to pick his former team to walk away with a win, and he was spot on, as most analysts were before the start of the contest.

The Giants fell 31-13, as rookie passer Daniel Jones threw three interceptions during the blowout. The first half saw the Giants creeping up on Green Bay before the inevitably pulled away with ease.

Let’s take a look at three players that were up and down for the New York Giants:

1.) Kaden Smith – UP

The 22-year-old rookie earned his inception into the NFL last week, coming down with his first score. Against the Packers, he didn’t pepper the stats with incredible numbers, but he did display great balance in the passing game, logging six receptions for 70-yards.

Smith has quietly worked his way up the depth chart and has filled in valiantly for the injured Evan Engram and Rhett Ellison. He’s in line to receive more playing time due to his reliable performance.

2.) Antoine Bethea – DOWN

It’s no surprise that Bethea was burned in coverage once again, but to be man-handled by Allen Lazard on a deep touchdown pass was the icing on the cake. Lazar simply changed directions, turning Bethea all the way around, putting him in no position to make a play.

He has shown quality near the line of scrimmage, but he has been a liability in the defensive backfield all season long.

3.) Julian Love – UP

For the second straight week, rookie safety, Julian Love, looked solid in coverage and even came up to make several excellent stops near the line of scrimmage.

This was an excellent sign for the Giants defense, considering their lack of quality across the field, Love has been a breath of fresh air heading into the dead-portion of the season. The Giants are officially eliminated from playoff contention, so any positives from their young players are essential to the team’s growth.

4.) Sam Beal – DOWN

Beal was lined up across from Packers No. 1 receiver DeVante Adams far too often on Sunday. This only indicates that Big Blue is more concerned with logging film on their rookie than winning the football game. Beal struggled heavily in coverage, allowing an easy touchdown to Adams in the fourth quarter.

While Beal has missed the majority of the season, the Giants didn’t allow him to gain confidence as they matched him up with one of the league’s best receivers.

5.) Darius Slayton – UP

If there’s any takeaway from this season that’s positive for Big Blue, it’s that they have something special in wide receiver, Darius Slayton. The former Auburn standout has seen his hands become glue, and his clutchness evolve throughout the season.

His trust with Daniel Jones has progressed nicely, and Slayton’s ability to come up on third downs has shined through. Without Golden Tate on the field on Sunday, Slayton picked up the slack, managing six receptions for 44 yards. Those numbers aren’t noteworthy, but his presence has undoubtedly been felt on offense.

6.) Markus Golden – DOWN

Golden didn’t have the worst game of the season, but he was almost non-existent in the pass-rush. He recorded just one QB-hit but managed to log eight total tackles.

Golden has been the Giants’ best pass-rusher this season, but a ghost-performance on Sunday helped officially eliminate the Giants from playoff contention. He’s looking to cash in on a productive season, but games like this hurt his value.

New York Giants news, 11/27 – 3 defenders to stay and 3 to hit the road in 2020

by
New York Giants, Alec Ogletree

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

The 2020 offseason will be full of turnover for the New York Giants, again. The defense is in dire need of support at numerous positions, especially at the inside and outside linebacker positions.

Let’s take a look at three players that will stay, and three that will go:

1.) Markus Golden – STAY

The only productive pass-rusher for the Giants this season has been Markus Golden, who has logged 7.5 sacks through 12 weeks. The Giants are still in need of a premium pass-rusher, but Golden is more than capable and should be retained. He won’t be paid like one of the best in the league, but he will garner a healthy contract nonetheless. The Giants have the money to invest, and if they’re keen on pairing him with another top-end outside linebacker, retaining him should be an easy decision.

2.) Alec Ogletree – GO

Ogletree’s contract takes a significant dip in dead-cap next season ($3.5 million), making him expendable. If Big Blue keeps him on the roster, he will count a whopping $11.75 million in dead-cap, an amount they shouldn’t be willing to pay for his incapable services.

Not only has Ogletree been absent against the run for a majority of his tenure with the Giants, but his coverage skills are abysmal. The $8.25 million in cap-space the Giants save can be allocated towards a variety of different positions, which seems to be the likely scenario.

3.) Michael Thomas – STAY

Thomas, who’s a special team maestro, will be a free agent after this season. The New York Giants must make it a priority to re-sign him and retain his stellar abilities. Thomas isn’t a defensive threat by any means, but his value on special teams is worth the investment 100x over.

4.) Leonard Williams – GO

In three games with the Giants, Williams has been mostly absent. Against the Bears, he finished with one total tackle and one QB hit. Against the Jets, he logged four QB hits and three combined tackles. For the most part, Williams hasn’t earned the 3rd round value GM Dave Gettleman placed on his head when he traded for him.

The Jets were begging to get rid of him, and Gettleman gave up far too much value, dropping a fifth and third-round pick (if he re-signs before the new league year). Considering the valuable players Gettleman has hit on later in the draft; he might have missed big on this deal.

5.)  Janoris Jenkins – STAY

Jenkins is the only trustworthy cornerback on the team, and his contract is relatively friendly considering the market-value of top corners in the NFL. If the Giants were keen on getting rid of Jenkins, they would have traded him before the deadline, which indicates he will likely remain with the team for at least one more season.

The veteran corner has displayed a lack of effort at times, but can you blame him for the lack of quality the Giants have surrounded him with in recent years? Big Blue needs a top corner, and Jenkins fits the bill perfectly for one more season.

6.) Antoine Bethea – GO

Bethea was signed to supplement the free safety position with Curtis Riley, leaving in free agency. So far, I miss Riley, who was known for taking bad angles at ball-carriers. Bethea is an absolute liability in the secondary but is solid closer to the line of scrimmage in a strong safety role.

The Giants don’t have a use for him as Julian Love secured an interception in Sunday’s loss to the Bears, seeing his highest snap-count this season. The Giants seem him as a potential long-term solution at the position.

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day:

Chris Pflum – Carl Banks named semi-finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

John Fennelly – Dave Gettleman has one more offseason to turn Giants around

John Fennelly – Lawrence Tynes is right: There’s nothing exciting about these Giants

Mike Vaccaro – Pat Shurmur can’t keep testing John’s Mara’s patience

Matt Lombardo – Was DeAndre Baker benched vs. Chicago Bears? Why Giants switched to Sam Beal at outside CB

New York Giants news, 11/24 – 3 keys to beating the Chicago Bears

by
New York Giants, Daniel Jones

Good Morning, New York Giants Fans!

Overcoming the Chicago Bears will be a challenge for the New York Giants, especially considering their inability to beat teams like the Jets, who were arguably worse before week 10. The Jets were coming off a disappointing loss to the winless Miami Dolphins, and the Giants were expected to perform better than they subsequently did.

The Bears represent a far more significant challenge, despite quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s struggles this season.

Here are the three keys to beating the Bears in week 12:

1.) The offensive line

The front five for the Giants has been decimated with poor play the past few weeks, and against the Jets, they were without center Jon Halapio, right tackle Mike Remmers, and left tackle Nate Solder left the game early with a concussion. This week, they will gain back both tackles, which should open up the door for a better run game and more time for Daniel Jones in the pocket. However, even when the line was healthy, they were still playing poorly.

Khalil Mack will line up opposite the Giants offensive line this Sunday, which will be bad news for Jones. They must step up and show they can play as a cohesive unit for the sake of their rookie quarterback.

2.) The pass-rushers

Only Markus Golden has shown any support in the pass-rushing department, as he’s logged 6.5 sacks and 15 QB hits this season. Putting Trubisky under pressure is a priority, so we should expect an array of blitzes from defensive coordinator James Bettcher. However, the outside linebacker must come to play against Chicago, or their offense will find its rhythm, similar to the Minnesota Vikings, who were stalling before pummeling the Giants defense.

3.) The tight ends

With Evan Engram and Rhett Ellison both scheduled to miss week 12, the Giants were forced to bring back Scott Simonson, who was cut after suffering a high ankle sprain during preseason.

Simonson is a capable blocker and pass-catcher, but he doesn’t have the elite speed Engram does to open up the middle of the field. We can expect him to garner a good percentage of offensive snaps and play a significant role in the run game, but his average skill-set will be the most he has to offer. I expect the Giants to work around him and focus on both Sterling Shepard, who’s returning from concussions symptoms, and Golden Tate.

Nonetheless–

Your top news of the day:

Paul Schwartz – Why Giants aren’t pushing the DeAndre Baker panic button

Anthony Rivardo – New York Giants: Can Darius Slayton Develop Into A No. 1 Receiver?

Matt Lombardo – Golden Tate creating explosiveness in new ways for Odell Beckam-less Giants
Mike Lupica – It’s just wrong for the Giants to be this bad for this long
Matt Citak – Giants vs. Bears Preview: 10 Things to Watch

Should the New York Giants extend pass-rusher Markus Golden?

by
New York Giants, Markus Golden

One thing the New York Giants have lacked this year is an elite pass-rusher who they can depend on to disrupt opposing quarterbacks and help stop the run. Free-agent pickup Markus Golden has been their best pass-rusher by far, logging 6.5 sacks and 15 QB hits through 10 games.

Golden’s ability to get into the backfield and force early passes has been a significant help for the 27th ranked Giants defense, but the secondary has been so weak his efforts have gone to waste. Pairing Golden with another premium-level pass-rusher would help take some of the pressure off and allow him to work in 1v1 situations with offensive tackles.

Opposing offenses have planned around Golden and provided help to slow him down in early-down sets. Because defensive coordinator James Bettcher has dialed down his blitz percentage, he has relied on Golden to pick up a majority of the slack.

Bettcher’s usual blitz-heavy scheme has been tamed, primarily at the expense of a disastrous secondary who has failed to work off of a solid push in the trenches and lack of talent at the linebacker position. Their inability to cover crossing routes and the deep ball has seen the Giants defense plummet every single week.

Should the New York Giants extend Markus Golden?

Extending Golden might not be the worst idea, especially considering the value of quality pass-rushers in today’s market. Given Big Blue manages to grab a top-level outside linebacker in the 2020 NFL Draft, like Chase Young or Yetur Gross-Matos, having Golden to pair with either would provide exponential value on the defensive line.

Imagining Golden, Young, Dalvin Tomlinson, Dexter Lawrence, and Leonard Williams up front gives me chills, and I can’t imagine a quarterback feeling any different. This unit would immediately become one of the league’s most feared, but it’s about retaining strong-points and not letting them walk in free agency.

Both Golden and Williams are due for big contracts — they will probably land in the $12-14 million range this upcoming offseason. It will be interesting to see general manager Dave Gettleman’s approach towards finalizing the trenches on the defensive side of the ball.