Field Yates of ESPN reports that the Giants have placed the unrestricted free agent tender on DE/OLB Markus Golden.
Golden can still negotiate with other teams leading up to the July deadline.
This is a rarely used option for teams, which means Golden can only play for the Giants in 2020 if he remains unsigned after July 22.
The last team to use this, was the Patriots back in 2017 when they tendered RB LeGarrette Blount a contract. Blount later signed on with the Eagles, so it ultimately did not have an impact on him.
Golden has been one of the best available free agents for over a month now. However, there has been very little interest in him up to this point.
The good news is that free agent activity could pick up in the coming days, given that the deadline for signings to impact 2021 compensatory picks has officially passed.
Golden, 29, is a former second-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2015. He played out the final year of his four-year rookie contract and signed a one-year, $3.75 million deal with the Giants after testing the free agent market for the first time in his NFL career.
In 2019, Golden appeared in all 16 games for the Giants and recorded 72 total tackles, 10 sacks, one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown and no pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 84 edge rusher out of 108 qualifying players.
We have him included in our Top 100 Available 2020 Free Agents list.
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