GIANTS GRAB KENNY GOLLADAY
WR Golladay gets sacks of cash, to tune of 4 years, $72 million
The Giants needed a big body who can snag passes out of the air, and they grabbed just that by agreeing to a four-year, $72 million deal, with $40 million guaranteed, with top free-agent receiver Kenny Golladay on Saturday.
It is Golladay Season for the Giants. The promise to import playmakers on offense to make life easier for quarterback Daniel Jones was kept on Saturday, when two days of investigation, courtship and negotiation culminated in the Giants signing wide receiver Kenny Golladay to a massive deal, making the tidal-wave free agent splash few anticipated they would be able to accomplish.
Supposedly starved for salary-cap space, the Giants and general manager Dave Gettleman did not fool around here. With assistant general manager Kevin Abrams leading the contract talks, the Giants gave Golladay a fouryear deal worth $72 million, with $40 million in guaranteed money, according to a source. The $18 million annual average is the highest for a wide receiver this year in free agency.
Just like that, a blah offense that finished 31st in scoring in 2020 looks much more potent, with the 6-foot-4 Golladay now the centerpiece of a passing attack that lacked big-play capability. Golladay, 27, led the NFL in 2019 with 11 touchdown receptions for the Lions. The Giants hope the longarmed Golladay can do for Jones what Plaxico Burress did for Eli Manning when Burress, also at the age of 27, came aboard in 2005.
The Giants knew they coveted Golladay, the player, but needed to be convinced he was worth the investment. They needed to learn if he was healthy — he played in only five games in 2020 with a hip flexor injury — and if he would fit into the team culture head coach Joe Judge is trying to create and cultivate.
Golladay arrived at the Giants’ facility Thursday afternoon for a visit that included dinner and extended into Friday evening. Golladay met Judge, members of the offensive staff and Gettleman. The interaction served to assuage any concerns the Giants had with Golladay, and then the two sides went to work trying to get a deal done. Golladay stayed in the area — he went to dinner with safety Jabrill Peppers — and a contract was hammered out on Saturday.
“Just hearing the vision coach Joe Judge had and coach Jason Garrett has as far as the offense,’’ Golladay said. “That had me right there. And just walking around the building, everybody greeting me and with them pretty much telling me they want me here and I’m expressing the same thing, it was kind of like a no-brainer and I’m glad it worked out.’’
Golladay spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Lions, averaging 16.8 yards per catch. He has two 1,000-yard receiving seasons. In an injury-filled 2020, he had 20 receptions for 338 yards.
Golladay, in 47 career games, has 183 receptions for 3,068 yards and 21 touchdowns. He specializes in going up and getting the ball, even when he is covered. His 53 contested catches since 2018 are more than any receiver in the league other than Allen Robinson, according to Pro Football Focus.
Golladay is joining a receiving corps that features Sterling Shepard in the slot and Darius Slayton as an outside threat. Add in Saquon Barkley, returning from knee surgery after playing in just two games last season, tight end Evan Engram playing in a contract year and newly signed tight end Kyle Rudolph as a red zone-threat and, suddenly, the Giants can fill the field with playmakers on offense.
This addition means the Giants do not need to feel pressure to take a top receiver, such as Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith, with the No. 11 pick in the upcoming NFL draft. They can go for a pass rusher, cornerback (unless they are able to sign Adoree’ Jackson, who will arrive for a visit Sunday night) or offensive lineman.
Why did Golladay last so long on the market? Teams had questions about his hip, and so the Giants sent Golladay to the Hospital for Special Surgery to get checke d out.
There were other concerns. Last October, he posted a picture on Instagram and the caption “This s--t gone cost you!’’ It seemed to be Golladay lashing out at the Lions for not giving him the money he wanted in a new contract. Not long after that, he “liked’’ an Instagram post that announced the firing of head coach Matt Patricia.
“First off, I think they just wanted to lay eyes on me, take a different approach about this whole process and it kind of worked out for both sides,’’ Golladay said. “I was able to come in and see what they are all about. I was able to see how the facility was. They had a chance to pick my brain and I think it worked out pretty smooth.’’
The Bears reportedly were serious about signing Golladay, but wanted to give him a one-year deal. The Giants considered that, as well, but Golladay’s camp wanted long-term security. He got that, plus big bucks. Only five receivers in the league average more than $18 million per year, a status Golladay now shares with the likes of Tyreek Hill and Odell Beckham Jr.