The Cardinals endured a heart-breaking loss last Sunday. It was not the game itself as they defeated the winless Jets 30-10. Instead, they lost one of their best defensive players, outside linebacker Chandler Jones, to a season-ending biceps injury. The loss of Jones is undoubtedly immeasurable, but Arizona is also facing injuries to other members who play the same position.
Linebacker Kylie Fitts has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. Devon Kennard, having missed the previous two games, is listed as questionable. And Dennis Gardeck, who played his first career defensive snaps last week and picked up two sacks, is also listed as questionable.
With injuries to three of their five rostered outside linebackers, there is a player out there who the Cardinals are very familiar with, Markus Golden.
The Cardinals selected Markus Golden in the second round of the 2015 draft. In four seasons with Arizona, Golden played in 46 games and recorded 19 sacks. In 2016, he broke out with 12.5 sacks, 51 tackles, and 22 quarterback hits. Poised to catapult himself as a dangerous pass rusher, he suffered a torn ACL in 2017. Missing the remainder of 2017, he returned in 2018, but looked a shell of his former self. After a disappointing 2018 season, Golden was allowed to become a free agent and he signed a one-year prove-it deal with the New York Giants.
In his first season with the Giants, Golden recorded his second career double-digit sack season with 10.5. After a tepid reception in free agency, Golden returned to New York in hopes of another stand out season in which he could finally cash in on and secure a long-term deal.
Despite the signing, however, the Giants have barely used Golden this year. For the season, Golden has played in only 124 defensive snaps, or 38%. That is a huge drop from the 917 for 83% of snaps from 2019. By all accounts, Golden has been healthy. Outside of a Week 1 illness, Golden has not been listed on New York’s injury report.
So, would a trade of Golden make sense for Arizona?
During his weekly segment on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Friday, general manager Steve Keim was asked if he would consider making a trade to address the position.
“There are so many things that go into a trade,” Keim said. “Two teams have to be willing to make it happen. There is the question of why a team is willing to part with a player that you covet. Then there is the second part, which is the financial part, especially when it’s a one-year deal, giving up draft compensation for a guy for maybe 10 games with this COVID process, or are you able to benefit from multi-years left on the contract? There are so many things that go into it. You just have to do the best you can for the organization.”
First, Cardinals GM Steve Keim is no stranger to in-season trades. He traded a fifth-round pick for running back Kenyan Drake last year. Like Golden, Drake had only played in 39% of offensive snaps in Miami. Given his usage in New York, the compensation for Golden may just be another 5th round pick. His lack of usage and production suggests this may be the equivalent of what the Giant’s what get as a 2021 compensatory pick as well.
Second, Golden’s contract is manageable under the Cardinals’ current cap situation. Having already played five games, Golden’s remaining compensation would be around $2.82 million. According to the NFLPA salary cap, the Cardinals have just over $9.7 million leaving nearly $7 million to either make other in-season signings or roll that money over to 2021.
And last, under the league’s new COVID protocols Golden would still need five days of negative PCR tests before he could participate in club activities. Theoretically, if Arizona were to trade for Golden by Monday, he could play for the Cardinals next Sunday when they face the Seattle Seahawks. In four games against Russell Wilson, Golden has recorded two sacks and five quarterback hits.
Whatever the Cardinals decide to do, one thing is clear. With injuries to both their starters and reserve players, their in-house options are not viable for the long-term success in 2020. While it’s difficult – impossible – to replace a two-time All-Pro talent, there is a familiar option out there if the Cardinals wish to explore it.
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