A big-time free agent is heading to the Big Apple.
The New York Giants are signing wide receiver Kenny Golladay to a four-year, $72 million deal with $40 million fully guaranteed, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, per informed sources. The deal is worth up to $76 million with incentives, Rapoport added.
The Giants later held a brief introductory press conference for their new signee, during which Golladay spoke on what attracted him to the franchise.
"Just the pieces on offense," he said. "Those guys actually kind of reached out to me and I liked the vision that coach Joe Judge had and [offensive coordinator] Jason Garrett, as far as the offense, and I was all the way in."
Golladay revealed that third-year quarterback Daniel Jones was one of the people that reached out to him during the process. He also shared his thoughts on why he believes Jones is the right QB to join forces with in his pursuit for success.
"He's still kind of fresh in the league a little bit and I kind of want to grow with him. I'm still growing as a player and I feel like me and him can do some good things. We haven't gotten on the practice field yet, but me and him both are very excited."
Golladay, the highest-ranked WR on Gregg Rosenthal's Top 101 free agents list at No. 6, joins Big Blue at the end of a week of recruiting that positioned the Giants and Chicago Bears as the key players for his services.
The Bears hosted Golladay on Wednesday and, as Rapoport reported Saturday, were willing to push money into future years in order to find space to pair him with franchise-tagged star Allen Robinson. In the end, Golladay ended up clicking with NYG coaches during his visit earlier this week and staying in town, ultimately paving the way for the two sides to work on closing the deal over the last 24 hours.
Originally considered a strong candidate for a franchise tag of his own, Golladay seemed all but destined for greener pastures after the Lions decided they wouldn't tender him on tag deadline day.
Detroit's decision allowed Golladay to test the free-agency waters in a year where many teams were cap-strapped. Rather than settle for a one-year deal and hit the market again like a few of his contemporaries, Golladay has opted to place his trust in Jones and Judge, who's entering his second season at the helm.
"I'm very excited to have Kenny. He's been a big-time playmaker in this league," Jones said in a team-issued statement. "When we spoke, he was interested in the culture we have in the building and the mindset of the team. I think he had heard it from coaches but wanted to hear how we saw it as players and how much we believed in it. I think finding the right fit in that sense was important to him. I can't wait to get out on the field and get to work with him."
Golladay departs the Motor City after a four-year run that saw him emerge as a touted wideout cornerbacks dread lining up against. A Pro Bowler in 2019, Golladay was limited to five games in 2020 due to injury. He finished the year with 338 yards and two touchdowns, falling below the standard he previously set with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and 16 total TD receptions between 2018-19.
An offseason of rehab should likely result in the Giants getting a version of the 27-year-old that resembles his Pro Bowl form. Standing at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Golladay is a big-bodied, physical target with some of the best hands in the NFL. His addition should work wonders for an offense led by Garrett that features Jones, formidable wideouts Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, tight ends Evan Engram and Kyle Rudolph and a motivated Saquon Barkley returning from a torn ACL.
It's been four years since New York made the playoffs, but bringing in a big-time talent like Golladay signals the franchise's intention to seize the NFC East sooner rather than later. It nearly won the division, albeit under rough circumstances, to close last season; if this promising group jells as hoped, the Giants may not need to rely on a Week 17 clash to decide their postseason status.
