Catch him if you can
Giants hope to get their own Plaxico in Golladay, but only if price stays low
Kenny Golladay is still out there on the open market, and the longer he’s unsigned, the better it is for the Giants in their quest to land a top-tier wide receiver.
The market for receivers this year is developing, with Nelson Agholor and Corey Davis coming off the board on Day 1 of the legal tampering period. Maybe the Giants can wait it out and land a big free-agent prize.
Why so much attention on Golladay? Well, he could do for the franchise what Plaxico Buress did for it 16 years ago.
Back in March 2005, the Giants got busy in free agency, signing middle linebacker Antonio Pierce and right tackle Kareem McKenzie, two players who became fixtures on their triumphant Super Bowl XLII team.
After securing those two players, the Giants were not done. They pursued Burress, the tall, explosive wide receiver from the Steelers, and were so intent on adding him as a target for Eli Manning that general manager Ernie Accorsi first announced they were breaking off negotiations with Burress, only to revisit talks once he hired a new agent.
The deal got done: Six years, $25 million. Two years later, Burress caught the winning touchdown pass to beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
As the head of the pro personnel department back then, Dave Gettleman had a keen eye for the talent around the NFL and who would fit best with what Tom Coughlin and the coaching staff wanted on the field. Gettleman was convinced Burress could be a missing piece to the offensive puzzle, and he was proven to be correct in that assessment.
In many ways, Golladay — the top receiver in this year’s free-agency class — is similar to Burress, and the Giants certainly have interest in adding Golladay to their sagging offense, providing Daniel Jones with a top weapon. Golladay will have many suitors and his price tag is expected to soar above $20 million per year — unless this year’s reduced salary cap around the league keeps down the cost for receivers. Agholor got a two-year deal from the Patriots worth $13 million a year with incentives and Davis got a three-year, $37.5 million package from the Jets. Golladay will command much more than that.
The Giants entered free agency about $4 million below the $182.5 million threshold, but expect to add as much as $10 million with the restructuring of Nate Solder’s contract. They can also gain cap space by reworking the deals for James Bradberry and/or Blake Martinez, if need be. They would greatly add to their cap space if they can come to terms on a multiyear contract with defensive tackle Leonard Williams, who is on the books for the entire $19.4 million franchise tag. There are no indications a deal is imminent.
Gettleman could be looking at Golladay as a player capable of doing for Jones what Burress did for Manning. The comparisons are there to be made.
Burress signed with the Giants when he was 27 years old, after five seasons with the Steelers. He averaged 52 receptions and 4.4 touchdowns per year, as well as 83 yards a game. He had two 1,000-yard seasons.
Golladay is 27 years old. In his four seasons with the Lions, he averaged 45.8 receptions and 5.3 touchdowns per year, as well as 76.7 yards per game. He has two 1,000-yard seasons.
Burress stood 6-foot-5, providing a tall target. Golladay is 6-4.
One caveat with Golladay: He was limited to only five games in 2020 with a hip injury. He should be fully healed, though, and will cash in very soon.
If a bidding war develops, the Giants figure to get out-bid for his services. If they are able to land him, let the onfield comparisons with Plaxico Burress begin.