The NFL offseason is a fun time for fans but also brings a sobering reality when veteran cuts are made. For every successful, splashy transaction each free agency, it seems as though multiple fall short of making the expected difference. One of the biggest free agent busts in modern NFL free agency is wide receiver Kenny Golladay.
Injuries Caused Kenny Golladay To Fail With Giants
The New York Giants inked Golladay to a massive four-year, $72 million deal in 2021 despite the 6’4″ playmaker coming off a major hip injury. Instead of becoming the franchise’s new No. 1 receiver, Golladay finished his Giants career with only 43 receptions, 602 yards, and one touchdown in 26 games.
ESPN reported that Golladay will be released with a June 1 designation after the new league year begins on March 15.
His stint was an undoubted failure, but it wasn’t because Golladay was a bad player prior to joining the Giants. Injuries suffered both during and after signing in New York were ultimately his downfall. Let’s dive into those factors and see whether they’ll keep him from signing with teams that could use an injection of talent at the position.
Golladay could barely get onto the field for two coaching staffs even as the team was ravaged by injuries over his two seasons in New York. Despite being one of the better vertical threats in the NFL in 2018 and 2019, his acrobatic sideline catches failed to translate in the Big Apple. He never seemed able to run at full speed, and his leaping ability was practically gone.
What exactly caused Golladay to go from a 1,190-yard player with 11 touchdowns in 2019 to being roster fodder is tougher to nail down. His hip sprain in 2020 caused him to miss eight games, and the Giants failed to properly calculate the risk that would come with cascading injuries based on that initial injury. SNY TV’s Connor Hughes reported that despite effort appearing to be an issue, “he just looked physically shot in each of his two years” with the team.
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Golladay signed a deal with three years’ worth of guarantees despite hitting free agency after missing 11 games due to hip flexor and hamstring injuries. That was reckless, especially considering the astoundingly high yearly average. Last year, D.J. Chark got almost half what Golladay did and had a similar résumé, and that was on a one-year deal.
By December of 2021, Golladay had already experienced three injuries with the Giants, with a knee sprain causing him to miss more time. Golladay said at the time, “I kind of just felt like something popped. I don’t think it’s too serious. Get treatment on it. I want to be out there with the team. So, I think it will just be day-to-day.”, according to Run Dunleavy of the New York Post.
It wasn’t day-to-day, as the Giants still didn’t play Golladay in 2022 after suffering injuries to Sterling Shepard, Collin Johnson, and Wan’Dale Robinson and trading Kadarius Toney. He never had the chemistry he needed to succeed with quarterback Daniel Jones, but it’s not as if Jones was the only one not holding up his end of the bargain.
Should the Bears, Ravens, or Texans Sign Golladay?
The reality is that the player who ranked fourth in air yards, sixth in average target distance, first in deep targets, and sixth in receiving yards in 2019 has little value in 2023, even as a flier signing for receiver-needy teams.
Even though the Bears and Texans should be willing to give the veteran minimum to a 29-year-old who could, in theory, offer their young quarterbacks a unique downfield presence, the upside is too low considering the very traits that made Golladay a good player in Detroit are gone.
He was never someone who would separate effectively, and giving a jump ball specialist to a young quarterback often doesn’t lead to incredible results since they prefer seeing open targets.
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The Bears and Texans both lack a clear No. 1 receiver moving into future years, with Brandin Cooks nearing 30 for Houston and Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool being more complementary playmakers. However, taking a gamble on another playmaker makes more sense as Golladay was unable to help Jones already.
The Ravens have a horrible track record with injuries and receivers whose best years are several years behind them, in particular. Even if Lamar Jackson returns and Golladay projects better into new offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s scheme, the franchise’s inability to get more out of Sammy Watkins, DeSean Jackson, and the rest of the mediocre and washed-up receivers isn’t a process worth repeating.
I’d expect to see Golladay get training camp looks from teams like these, though. It’s worth seeing if a full offseason where he can train has some value. But signing him before July over giving a more explosive young player or under-the-radar veteran wouldn’t be wise as the best case for Golladay is likely being a role player or situational red-zone presence.