Three edge rushers Seahawks should risk signing to one-year deals

Markus Golden

Markus Golden is an enigma. Maybe he is holding out for a bunch more money than he has ever gotten paid and that is why he has not signed anywhere. The most Golden has ever been paid was in 2019 and that was $4.75 million in his only season with the Giants. But he had a great season.

On a bad team in 2019, linebacker Golden had 10 sacks, 13 tackles-for-loss and 27 quarterback hits. Those numbers would have obliterated anyone on the Seahawks roster last year. Based on those numbers alone, Golden might be asking for $10 million or more a season from any potential suitor.

But here is where it gets a bit weird. Golden is nothing but inconsistent. In 2016 and 2019 combined, Golden had 22.5 sacks, 29 tackles-for-loss and 49 quarterback hits in 32 games. But the other three years of his career combined? 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles-for-loss and 20 quarterback hits in 30 games. Signing Golden will be boom or bust.

But let’s assume Golden will be more like 2019 and Seattle should take a chance on him. If the Seahawks offer the 29 year-old Golden a one-year deal at $8 million and he takes it, that would leave room for Seattle to possibly sign Everson Griffen too. Don’t hate me for saying this, but the Seahawks would then be out of the running for Jadeveon Clowney, but the 2020 roster would be better at least.