Could This Edge Rusher be the ’24 Version of Clowney/Van Noy?

Eric DeCosta sets the standard in the NFL when it comes to finding value in the free agent market. Last year’s acquisitions of pass-rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy for pennies on the dollar are arguably what allowed the Ravens defense to be the league’s best in 2023. Moves like those are what set Baltimore’s front office apart from the rest of the league; DeCosta and Co. have an uncanny ability to dip into the market and get high levels of production from undervalued veterans. The front office has, on several occasions, unearthed veteran talent seemingly out of nowhere and resurrected the careers of countless players. And they’re surely working to continue that tradition of success here in 2024.

Now, I should preface the rest of this article by saying that EDC likes to wait until July or August to pull the trigger on signings like these; that’s just when value is maximized, which is critical in a salary cap league. Typically, he’s been able to find solid role-players that late into the calendar, which definitely boosts the confidence of everyone drinking the Kool-Aid. Scouring the free agent market for guys that can fill the Ravens’ needs and help propel them to New Orleans in February, I’ve found an edge rusher who fits the bill of a low-cost veteran with the ability to put up big numbers in 2024.

And his name is Markus Golden.

Let’s start with production. Golden has had a fairly successful NFL run; while he’s never made the Pro Bowl, the 33-year-old has racked up a respectable 51 career sacks to go along with 343 total tackles. His best season came in 2016 with the Cardinals (his second in the league), when he posted 12.5 sacks and 22 QB knockdowns over 16 games. He faded into the background in 2017 and 2018, playing a combined 15 games and recording only 2.5 sacks, before rebounding nicely in 2019 with a double-digit sack campaign as a member of the Giants. His age-29 season in 2020 fell flat, as he logged 4.5 sacks after returning to Arizona in the offseason, then heading back to the Giants midyear. Golden had a surprisingly fruitful 2021 (now in his third stint with the Cardinals), putting up an impressive 11 sacks before following it up with an equally disappointing 2022 (2.5 sacks). He spent 2023 in Pittsburgh, managing four sacks despite not earning a start all year. Golden’s career has certainly been filled with ups and downs, but there’s reason to believe that he can return to the form he showed in ’16, ’19, and ’21… especially as a part of Zach Orr’s scheme.

Plus, the Ravens can get him on a dirt-cheap contract, which is important for a team as cap-strapped as they are. The Steelers signed him to a one-year deal worth just over $1.3M last offseason, and his performance in 2023 doesn’t justify a significant raise in ’24, especially seeing that he’s available this late into the offseason. EDC could likely snag him on a prove-it deal worth around $1.5M that benefits all parties involved. Golden gets another chance to prove that he can play in the league on a team that’s known to be friendly towards veterans. The Ravens, on the other hand, get another low-risk high-reward player that could, at worst, be a depth rotational piece and, at best, push them over the edge. And, while it’s true that there’s a good chance that Golden’s best days are behind him and that Every Dollar Counts (wink wink) for a team running out of cap space, the rewards could be massive, especially considering the price point. If new DC Orr hasn’t changed too much of Mike McDonald’s scheme, there’s a solid chance that Golden could post 6+ sacks this year while providing some injury insurance at a thin position group. And that’s worth wayyy more than a buck and a half.

This is the type of move that has EDC’s name written all over it, and it’s one that the Ravens absolutely should make if the price is right. The results could be franchise-altering

This really is a golden opportunity.

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