Detroit Lions: Kenny Golladay strikes massive deal with New York Giants

Former Detroit Lions pass-catcher Kenny Golladay signed a blockbuster deal with a new team.  The talented free-agent wide receiver will be joining the New York Giants.

The deal is worth a reported $72-million with a max of $76-million over a four-year commitment.  The agreement also has a bulky $40-million in guaranteed money included.

Golladay had been widely considered as the top available receiver set to hit the open market, and as all of the other positions quickly started flying off of the board during the league’s legal free agent tampering period, the receivers basically stood-pat.

A few short weeks ago, Detroit Lions general manager (GM) Brad Holmes mentioned the organization would not be using the franchise tag worth $18-million on Golladay.  The dynamic pass-catcher reportedly turned down a long-term deal offered to him last Fall by the previous regime.  Reading the tea leaves, I suspect Golladay had no interest in playing for former GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia.

The 27-year old seemed to be open to a reunion with the Detroit Lions after the franchise overhauled their front office and coaching staff. Still, it’s difficult to pay a receiver that kind of money entering the first year of what is expected to be a full-blown rebuild.

The Detroit Lions have an abundance of money tied up at the quarterback position for the 2021 season.  Detroit is forced to endure an elevated $19-million in dead cap space to former quarterback Matthew Stafford along with the $25.3-million owed to Jared Goff.

Former Detroit Lions receiver Kenny Golladay signs with the New York Giants.

Golladay will become Giants’ quarterback Daniel Jones’ top weapon in 2021.  The Giants have some talented players on offense but haven’t had a dynamic outside threat like Golladay in years.

Jones has two years remaining on his rookie deal which helps the Giants franchise load-up a supporting cast.  New York will deploy a stellar running game that surrounds Saquon Barkley.  They’ve recently signed tight end Kyle Rudolph to pair with Evan Engram, plus added the speedy John Ross, who should compliment Golladay, Darius Slayton, and Sterling Shepard in 2021.

Suddenly the Giants’ offense doesn’t look so bad on paper.

Adding Golladay to be the team’s WR1 will allow Slayton to work against single coverage on the opposite side, leaving both Engram and Shepard to excel in the middle of the field.

During the 2019 season, Golladay led the league with 11 touchdown receptions with the Detroit Lions despite having Stafford under center for half of the season.

Last year the talented receiver was limited to just five games, where he totaled 338 yards on 20 receptions.

Throughout his career, Golladay amassed 3,068 yards on 183 receptions and 21 touchdowns, providing the Detroit Lions with a 58.1% catch-rate.