Tag: Kyler Fackrell

Does Kyler Fackrell addition mean Giants are moving on from Markus Golden?

The New York Giants may have added linebacker Kyler Fackrell on a one-year deal, but does it mean they’re moving on from Markus Golden?

The New York Giants are in the process of retooling their pass rush this offseason and some interesting choices still await them. It was once a forgone conclusion that they would be hot to re-sign Markus Golden, who racked up 10.0 sacks for them last season.

Thus far, that has not been the case. In fact, Golden’s market has been relatively cold. Even the Giants have seemingly steered clear, signing Green Bay outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell to a look-see contract instead of making Golden an offer.

“The Giants signed Fackrell to a one-year deal worth $4.6 million and seem to view him as a potential replacement for Golden, who remains available in the second week of free agency,” writes NJ Advance Media’s Matt Lombardo.

“The Giants are betting that Fackrell, who played under Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham when Graham was the Packers’ linebackers coach, yields similar or stronger returns this season than Golden did under Bettcher last year. They have plenty of reason to be optimistic.”

Like Golden, Fackrell is a player who exhibited a high rate of production when given more snaps, just like Golden did in Arizona. Both players were beset by injuries which forced them into either inactivity and reduced snaps or a position change.

Will the addition of Fackrell preclude the Giants from pursuing Golden this spring if he remains unsigned? The answer is unknown. Like everything else, it will all come down to economics.

At least for now, all we know is that the Giants are quietly monitoring Golden’s market.

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Did Giants hand out two of the NFL’s worst free agent contracts?

Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Network believes the New York Giants handed out two of the NFL’s worst free agent contracts in 2020.

The next time New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman does something that isn’t heavily criticized, it will be the first time. After all, it’s become the in thing — almost an addiction — to pile on him whenever the opportunity presents itself.

That’s exactly what NFL Network’s Gregg Rosenthal did on Monday, claiming the Giants and Gettleman handed out two of the NFL’s worst free agent contracts here in 2020.

Blake Martinez and Kyler Fackrell, New York Giants linebackers: This is a classic case of a team overpaying for mid-level players in free agency because they can’t draft or develop at the position. The Giants’ linebackers have been a problem for years, so GM Dave Gettleman paid Martinez like a pass rusher: $19 million guaranteed and $22 million over the next two years. He would have been a lot better off just spending a little extra money on new Raider Cory Littleton or signing Joe Schobert, who went to Jacksonville. Fackrell was less of an issue — he received $4.6 million for one year — but it was another deal that had the look of an organization just hoping to climb back to the middle.

Ultimately, when you have needs at a position, you pay what the market determines. And while the argument can be made that the money spent on Martinez was better spent on someone like Littleton, that’s simply not how things shook out.

The Giants have had desperate needs at the linebacker position dating back to the Jerry Reese years, so it’s more of an inherited problem than a Gettleman-specific one. And while Martinez and Fackrell may not be top-end game-changers, they are an overall improvement.

And in this case of Fackrell, it’s more of a one-year, prove-it deal than anything else. And the last time the Giants did that with a linebacker (see: Markus Golden), it panned out quite well. But the benefit of the doubt does not exist in this space…

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Giants to add Kyler Fackrell: 3 things to know

The New York Giants have agreed to terms with Kyler Fackrell, so here are three things to know about their newest linebacker.

Many New York Giants pundits have been calling for the re-signing of linebacker Markus Golden, who had a 10-sack season for Big Blue after inking a one-year, “prove-it” deal. It doesn’t appear that they will bring him back this season based on the moves they’ve made the past few days.

Instead of bringing Golden back, they are hoping to catch lightning in bottle with the Packers’ Kyler Fackrell.

Here are three things to know.

Jim Matthews/Green Bay Press-Gazette via USA TODAY Sports

He is familiar with the Giants’ way

Fackrell, along with Blake Martinez, both played under current Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham in Green Bay in 2018 when he was the linebackers coach. The Giants like familiarity and these two signings are high in their wheelhouse.

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Report: Giants agree to 1-year deal with OLB Kyler Fackrell

The Giants have reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with Kyler Fackrell.

The New York Giants are bringing in another linebacker from the Green Bay Packers via free agency in outside linebacker, Kyler Fackrell.

On Monday, the Giants made a splash by agreeing to terms with Packers inside linebacker Blake Martinez on a three-year, $30.75 million deal. Fackrell’s deal is for one season at $4.6 million.

Fackrell (6-foot-5, 245 pounds) was a third-round pick by Green Bay in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Utah State. He played 13 games as a rookie in 2016 and played 16 games in each of the following seasons for the Packers.

Known as “The Freak”, Fackrell was used as a rotational player and backup, starting just nine of the 61 games he played in Green Bay.

Fackrell showed some pass-rushing ability in 2018 when he racked up 10.5 sacks and 12 QB hits. In 2019, he had 10 QB hits but only one sack.

The Giants are hoping Fackrell can find his spark again in the same way that Markus Golden did last year, registering ten sacks after inking a one-year, “prove-it” deal.

Former Packers OLB Kyler Fackrell agrees to 1-year deal with Giants

Former Packers OLB Kyler Fackrell is joining Blake Martinez with the Giants.

Blake Martinez isn’t the only former member of the Green Bay Packers heading to New York.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell agreed to a one-year, $4.6 million deal with the Giants, joining Martinez in Patrick Graham’s defense in New York.

Fackrell, a third-round pick in 2016, broke out with 10.5 sacks in 2018 but was relegated to a reserve role in 2019. Now, he’ll get a chance to rebuild his value with a bigger opportunity on a one-year deal with the Giants.

Graham, who was hired by first-year Giants coach Joe Judge, was an assistant defensive coach with the Packers in 2018, giving him insight on both Fackrell and Martinez.

Although not a great defender against the run, Fackrell gave the Packers quality snaps as a situational rusher and in coverage.

Over 61 games and nine starts, Fackrell produced 16.5 sacks, 32 quarterback hits and 21 tackles for losses. He had 10 quarterback hits but a career-low one sack in 2019.

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5 realistic free agent pass rushers the Cardinals can target

The Cardinals want to add a pass rusher this offseason. Here are some options that won’t cost too much.

The Arizona Cardinals will look to add a pass rusher to play outside linebacker opposite Chander Jones this offseason. In free agency, that can be costly, as it is a premium position. What makes it even more difficult is some of the better players — Matthew Judon, Bud Dupree and Shaquil Barrett — will be unavailable because they will be franchise tagged.

So who are some realistic, lower-cost pass rushers the Cardinals viably could sign?

Markus Golden

 (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Many would argue Golden never should have left, when the Cardinals chose to let him go and sign Terrell Suggs, who did not work out. Now Golden appears set to hit free agency again and cash in. His expected market value is $13.5 million per year. He had 10 sacks last season for the Giants. He will be expensive but still less than what Jones’ makes.

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OLB Kyler Fackrell expected to leave Packers in free agency

The Packers are likely to lose Fackrell, who wants a bigger opportunity, in free agency.

The Green Bay Packers will likely lose depth at edge rusher this offseason.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell is expected to leave the Packers in free agency, with the unrestricted free agent likely to look for a one-year deal with a team capable of offering a bigger opportunity than the Packers – who invested heavily at outside linebacker over the last year – can realistically provide.

Fackrell, a third-round pick of the Packers in 2016, produced 16.5 sacks and 111 tackles over four seasons in Green Bay.

Despite a breakout season in 2018, when Fackrell came out of nowhere to tally 10.5 sacks, the Packers got aggressive at edge rusher the ensuing offseason, signing veterans Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith in free agency and then using the 12th overall pick on Rashan Gary, completely rebuilding the position.

Fackrell played just 415 snaps and produced one sack and 10 quarterbacks in 2019. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine played him a versatile role that asked Fackrell to both rush the passer and drop into coverage.

The 28-year-old will now go into free agency looking for a chance to play more snaps and produce bigger numbers in 2020, potentially creating an opportunity for a bigger payday in 2021.

The Packers will need to add or identify a fourth edge rusher this offseason. Former Ravens draft pick Tim Williams will be back, in addition to undrafted free agents Randy Ramsey and Greg Roberts. GM Brian Gutekunst could target another edge rusher at some point in the draft to ensure his stable of outside linebackers remains deep and versatile.

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Cardinals offseason positional outlook: Outside linebackers

Chandler Jones is a certainty. The other spot is up for grabs.

The Arizona Cardinals got great play and not so great play from their edge linebacker position in 2019. As we look ahead to the offseason, let’s look at what is to come. We will look back at how they did, the current roster and what questions are in the offseason.

2019 review

(AP Photo/Steve Luciano)

2019 was all about Chandler Jones being great and everyone else being not very good.

Jones set a franchise record with 19 sacks and had eight forced fumbles. He was half a sack short of the league lead and, had he had one more sack, he probably would have been Defensive Player of the Year.

Outside of Jones, the outside linebackers on the roster produced 10 sacks. 5.5 of them came from Terrell Suggs, who started the season with two in the season opener but had only half a sack in the final six games with the Cardinals before he was released. He was a huge disappointment.

Haason Reddick moved to outside linebacker and showed some potential, while Cassius Marsh produced minimally.

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Making the case for and against the Packers re-signing OLB Kyler Fackrell

Breaking down the pros and cons of the Packers re-signing OLB Kyler Fackrell, an unrestricted free agent.

A third-round pick from the Green Bay Packers’ 2016 draft class will soon be an unrestricted free agent.

Outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell, who broke out with 10.5 sacks during the 2018 season but took a backseat behind Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith in 2019, has an expiring contract.

Here is the case for and against the Packers re-signing Fackrell:

Case for

Edge rusher is a premium position, and the Packers know Fackrell and understand the versatility of his skillset. He can provide some pass-rushing production (14.5 sacks, 29 quarterback hits the last three seasons) and the athleticism to drop into coverage from a standup linebacker position. In 2018, Fackrell took advantage of an opportunity and shocked the world with 10.5 sacks, a crazy number he couldn’t replicate in 2019. His ability to create pressure didn’t suffer, he just didn’t finish at such a ridiculous rate. The Packers asked him to rush less this past season and drop into space more, a role that better fit his abilities. His comfort level in space allowed Mike Pettine opportunities to disguise blitzes. There are times when he can be really slippery as a rusher, and his closing speed to the quarterback is strong. Depth at edge rusher is important for any team, and Fackrell represents a solid No. 3 or No. 4 outside linebacker. He’ll willingly play special teams, too. Losing him will likely require the Packers to add an edge rusher at some point this offseason.

Case against

The Packers probably don’t have the cap space to keep Fackrell around, and they have a first-round pick – Rashan Gary – who is going to need more opportunities, starting right away in 2020. Fackrell isn’t anywhere near a top-shelf rusher despite his breakout 2018 season. He’ll fight through blocks until the whistle but when he wins quick in the snap it’s rare. He’s tougher than he gets credit for but he still lacks true play strength and power at the point of attack. Teams run at him because he can get enveloped and overpowered on the edge by tackles and tight ends alike. Pro Football Focus graded him as a below-average rusher and run defender in 2019, which accurately reflects his aggregate performance in a rotational role. Fackrell will turn 29 during the 2020 regular season and is probably maxed out as a player.

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1 pending free agent Dolphins should target from each NFC North team

The Dolphins will enter 2020 free agency window with 1 of the biggest cap totals in the league. Who should they target from the NFC North?

The Miami Dolphins are all set to enter 2020 free agency next month and continue the team’s ambitious plan to completely overhaul the roster. Yes, this team’s primary objective appears to be to build through the draft. But the Dolphins will have a mass surplus of cap space at their disposal and the environment in South Florida is one filled with optimism after the Dolphins finished 5-4 over their final nine games.

Looking across the NFL landscape, there’s a ton of potential contributors set to hit the market. Here’s one pending free agent from each team in the NFC North that the Dolphins should consider:

Green Bay Packers – Rush Linebacker Kyler Fackrell

January 19, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Kyler Fackrell (51) before the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

One year after tallying 10.5 sacks for the Green Bay Packers, Fackrell logged just one in 16 games played in 2019. The writing is on the wall that Fackrell is on the outs — between the free agent signings of Preston Williams and Za’Darius Smith and the Packers’ selection of pass rusher Rashan Gary in the 1st-round of last year’s NFL Draft.

Fackrell would be an interesting addition to Miami’s pressure linebacker group — which was occupied in 2019 by a bunch of dudes from Wisconsin, ironically enough. But Vince Biegel needs a new contract and Andrew Van Ginkel was a late-round draft pick. Could Fackrell push them for reps?

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