Giants ended up giving Kenny Golladay almost $1M per catch

Kenny Golladay. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Giants ended up giving Kenny Golladay almost $1 million per catch before release

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 2/28/23

Kenny Golladay has played his final game in a New York Giants uniform.
He ended up securing almost $1 million per reception during his very rough two-season tenure with "Big Blue."

Kenny Golladay still has $4.5M in guaranteed money owed to him after his release.

Regardless of where he ends up next season and for how much, he has at least $4.5M headed his way this season. Heckuva deal signed in 2021 by him. https://t.co/Z7doKbKyvK
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 28, 2023

The Giants are releasing WR Kenny Golladay, per source. It's not a June 1 release, so this will create $6.7M in cap savings while leaving $14.7M in dead money.

Golladay had 6 catches for 81 yards and 1 TD in the second year of the four-year, $72M deal he signed in 2021.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) February 28, 2023

It's a stunning fall from grace for Golladay, as the former third-round NFL Draft pick was a 2019 Pro Bowler who led the league with 11 receiving touchdowns that year.

After a promising first two seasons with the Detroit Lions in 2017 and 2018, Golladay exploded with his career-high touchdown total, as well as a career-high 1,190 receiving yards and 65 receptions on 116 targets as well.

Following an injury-plagued 2020 campaign -- his final year with the Lions -- the Northern Illinois product signed with the Giants in March 2021. Over 14 games that season, he produced only 37 receptions on 76 targets, and 521 receiving yards with zero touchdowns for the first time since he entered the league.

The 2022 season was even worse.

Heading into the year running routes "with the stiffness of a mannequin," Golladay ended up setting career-worst numbers in targets (17), receptions (six), receiving yards (81) and catch percentage (35.3%) across his 12 games and made a career-low four starts. The 29-year-old was involved in heavy trade rumors throughout parts of the season as well.

Still on the right side of 30, it's likely that Golladay finds himself on a roster later this offseason, but it looks like his best days are behind him.

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