After making the splash of signing WR Golden Tate on Thursday night, the Giants switched to defense and signed OLB Markus Golden to a one-year deal, SNY's Ralph Vacchiano confirmed.
The Giants were in the market for an edge rusher after the Olivier Vernon trade to the Browns, and they're banking on Golden to be an immediate impact player in his place. He will be playing on a prove-it deal as his recent seasons warrant.
Golden was a former second-round choice by the Cardinals back in 2015, and he totaled four sacks, 10 quarterback hits, and 30 combined tackles in 15 games that year. It was in 2016, though, that he broke out with 12.5 sacks, 51 combined tackles, and 22 quarterback hits.
However, Golden hasn't produced that much since he tore his ACL in 2017, cutting his season short after four games. He returned for 11 games in 2018, but only to the tune of 2.5 sacks, 30 tackles, and six quarterback hits.
Golden has a link to the Giants in defensive coordinator James Bettcher, having played under his 3-4 scheme in Arizona for three seasons before Bettcher came to New York last year. Maybe Bettcher can tap into that production from Golden yet again given his fresh start.