Giants Rumors: Markus Golden Open to Returning in Free Agency; Led Team in Sacks

Linebacker Markus Golden is expected to test the waters in free agency when the new league year begins on March 18, but he's open to returning to the New York Giants, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.

Golden joined the Giants last offseason on a one-year, $3.75 million deal after four years with the Arizona Cardinals. He took advantage of the opportunity with a team-high 10 sacks in 2019, adding 72 tackles and a fumble returned for a touchdown.

Just as importantly, Golden stayed healthy while starting all 16 games and playing 83 percent of defensive snaps for the Giants, per Pro Football Reference.

The 28-year-old missed five games in 2018 because of an ankle injury, while knee problems cut his 2017 season short after just four games.

Golden had proved himself on the field in the past, totaling 12.5 sacks for the Cardinals in 2016, but he had to demonstrate in his one-year deal that he could stay healthy and productive. After doing just that in 2019, he has a chance to secure a much better contract in 2020.

New York would certainly want to keep him after his big year, especially considering no one else on the roster had more than five sacks last season. Retaining Golden would be a key move in improving upon the third-worst scoring defense in the NFL.

The 2015 second-round pick had also said he would "love" to re-sign with the team in December, per Tom Rock of Newsday.

"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."

The two sides will now have to agree on a new deal before another team swoops him up in free agency.