Markus Golden

Markus Golden

33-Year-Old LinebackerLB
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Golden tallied 11 sacks with the Cardinals in 2021 but showed some regression in 2022, finishing the year with 48 tackles (22 solo) and 2.5 sacks before being released by Arizona. He settled for a one-year contract with the Steelers during the offseason, and he'll likely have to compete with rookie fourth-rounder Nick Herbig for snaps to begin the 2023 campaign. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
$Signed a one-year, $1.32 million contract with the Steelers in May of 2023.
Headed to Pittsburgh
LBPittsburgh Steelers
May 24, 2023
Golden and the Steelers agreed Wednesday to a one-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Golden was released by Arizona this offseason after struggling to make an impact in 2022, recording just 48 tackles and 2.5 sacks across 17 regular-season appearances. The 2015 second-round pick has three career double-digit sack campaigns, most recently in 2021, but he's totaled just 13.5 sacks in his other five seasons combined. In Pittsburgh, Golden will likely compete with rookie fourth-round pick Nick Herbig for snaps behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
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NFL Stats
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2022
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2023 NFL Game Log
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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2020 NFL Game Log
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2019 NFL Game Log
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2018 NFL Game Log
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2017 NFL Game Log
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2023 Markus Golden Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do Markus Golden's measurables compare to other linebackers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 2"
 
Weight
260 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.90 sec
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Markus Golden See More
IDP Analysis: Week 10 Review
IDP Analysis: Week 10 Review
November 14, 2022
November 14, 2022
Myjai Sanders could grab the outside linebacker spot opposite Markus Golden, after he broke out Week 10 with five solo tackles and a strip-sack.
Gameday Injuries: Week 17
Gameday Injuries: Week 17
January 1, 2022
January 1, 2022
Juan Carlos Blanco sorts out another robust injury report on the most critical week of the NFL season for most fantasy leagues.
NFL Game Previews: Browns-Steelers Matchup
January 1, 2022
Erik Siegrist previews the Monday night matchup with game predictions, fantasy projections and DFS picks as Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers try to keep their playoff hopes alive against the Browns.
IDP Analysis: Parsons Comes in Hot
December 7, 2021
Jordan Mazzara writes about this week’s noteworthy IDPs, starting with Micah Parsons who has recorded 30 stops, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in the last five games.
Best Ball Journal: Last-Round Targets
April 15, 2021
Dan Arnold might function mostly like a wide receiver in Carolina, making him an interesting best ball option in the final rounds at tight end.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Will need to step up
LBPittsburgh Steelers
January 9, 2024
Golden is expected to see a more substantial role in Sunday's game against Buffalo due to the absence of T.J. Watt, Brooke Pryor of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
The Steelers signed Golden this offseason, and he's played a limited role for the team, failing to top 24 defensive snaps in a single game. Even so, he's managed to tally four sacks, including one in Pittsburgh's Week 18 win over the Ravens after Watt departed with a knee injury. Nick Herbig is likely to see the field more than Golden, but the duo should both have a significant role Sunday.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
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2015
Golden's seven pro campaigns have been interspersed with quiet stretches and sudden outbursts, as evidenced by four years with 4.5 or fewer sacks and three with double-digit tallies. Last season was one of the flare-ups, with the then 30-year-old again erupting for 11 sacks among his 48 tackles across 16 games. Golden also matched his career high in forced fumbles with four and recovered a career-best two fumbles. The pass rusher will aim to put together the first back-to-back campaigns with 10-plus sacks of his career this year.
Golden split time between the Giants and Cardinals last season on his way to 33 tackles, 4.5 sacks and one interception in 16 games. It marked his second stint in Arizona, who made him a second-round selection in the 2015 Draft. Golden has a pair of 10-plus sack campaigns on his resume - 12.5 in 2016 with the Cards and 10 in 2019 with New York - so another could be in the works this year as he works opposite sack artist Chandler Jones.
Given the unrestricted free-agent tender in April, Golden will stick with the Giants unless someone else signs him by July. That's probably a good thing because he was the team's leader in sacks with 10 last year, the second time in Golden's career he's reached double digits. Should he remain in New York, expect him to be one of their starting edge rushers and a modest tackle source to go along with his sacks.
Golden broke out in 2016 by racking up 12.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and a colossal 22 QB hits,. In two years since, however, the 28-year-old has been debleted by injury in missing 17 games due to a torn ACL and an ankle issue. Over his final two seasons in Arizona, Golden accumulated only 2.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and 10 QB hits in 15 games.
Golden burst onto the scene in 2016 with a team-leading 12.5 sacks, which is quite the feat on a defense that rosters premier pass rusher Chandler Jones. The follow-up was less than ideal, though. Golden didn't make a mark in the sack department through the first three games of last season before tearing his ACL in Week 4. In the aftermath of a lost campaign, he enters the final year of his rookie contract but is still contained to a running program as of mandatory minicamp in mid-June.
Golden tapped into the potential that spurred the Cardinals to nab him in the second round of the 2015 draft, jumping from four sacks as a rookie to 12.5 sacks last season. The offseason addition of Chandler Jones aided Golden's cause, but he complemented a third-place finish in the sack department with four forced fumbles, which was good for a tie for seventh in the NFL. While the loss of Calais Campbell as a free agent removes a key piece of the pass rush, Golden will again have the newly-minted Jones operating on the other side as the unit attempts a repeat performance in the fall.
The Cardinals struck for Golden in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft with notable 3-4 outside linebackers Randy Gregory and Owamagbe Odighizuwa still on the board, surprising talking heads and viewers alike. Golden has responded by climbing the depth chart throughout the offseason and even logging first-team reps at weak-side linebacker early in training camp. If the trend continues, he could usurp the role intended for Lorenzo Alexander, which isn't a hit to the veteran due to his ability to play all four LB spots as well as his special teams prowess. In his final season at the pass-rush factory that is Missouri, Golden notched 78 tackles (43 solo) and 10 sacks in 13 games.
More Fantasy News
Will be released
LBFree Agent
March 10, 2023
The Cardinals are releasing Golden on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Logs sack against Broncos
LBArizona Cardinals
December 20, 2022
Golden finished Sunday's Week 15 loss to Denver with seven tackles (five solo), including one sack.
ANALYSIS
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Full-go for Week 1
LBArizona Cardinals
September 9, 2022
Golden (toe) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's season opener against the Chiefs, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Receives one-year extension
LBArizona Cardinals
Toe
September 9, 2022
The Cardinals and Golden (toe) agreed to a one-year extension Friday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Limited on Thursday
LBArizona Cardinals
Toe
September 8, 2022
Golden (toe) was a limited paricipant during the Cardinals' practice Thursday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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