Markus Golden hasn’t made it far in his second Steelers contract. Eight days after the contract extension, the experienced pass rusher has changed course. The Steelers placed him on the reserve/retired list on Friday.
Golden served as the Steelers’ rotational rusher last season, posting double-digit sack totals for three seasons. The former Cardinals and Giants edge player posted four sacks and 10 QB hits as a Steeler in 2023, but the team will need a different plan. TJ Watt And Alex Highsmith Now.
The Steelers gave Golden a one-year, $1.32 million contract to play behind their standout OLBs, and he played in 16 games. Now Golden follows the Titans guard Charles Saahdiq by changing course during training camp and retiring. However, Golden has played nine NFL seasons; Charles was entering his fifth year. Golden is also 33 and came into the league from Missouri at age 24.
The 2015 second-round pick will be remembered for his two stints with the Cardinals. Two of Golden’s three seasons with more than 10 sacks took place in Arizona – each as Chandler Jones Sidekick. Golden posted a 12.5-sack season in 2016, and after a torn ACL in October 2017 derailed his career, he totaled 10 sacks (and a career-high 27 QB hits) as a Giant in 2019. After a transfer back to Arizona in 2020, Golden collected 11 sacks for a 2021 Cardinals team that—despite the loss— JJ Watt And DeAndre Hopkins due to injuries – ended a long play-off drought.
Golden didn’t fare too well financially — at least considering his performance — and he never signed a contract worth more than $10 million. The Giants gave him a one-year, $3.75 million deal in 2019 and then gave him a UFA tender a year later. He signed a two-year, $9 million deal to stay in Arizona for 2021 and agreed to a short-term extension in 2022. A restructured Cards regime released him a year later, leading to the Pittsburgh contract. Over the course of his career, Golden recorded 51 sacks and actually brought in more than $22 million on his short-term contracts.
The Steelers did not draft any outside linebackers and again have a question about the performance behind Highsmith and Watt. Nick Herbig remains in the squad after a season with three sacks and the team expects a comeback performance from the loyal D-Lineman Cameron Heyward — after an injury-plagued 2023. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Steelers continued to search. They made a trade for Malik Reed two months ago in August; a similar move to replace Golden might be necessary for this defensive-minded team.
