NFL free agency: Kenny Golladay agrees to 4-year, $72M deal with New York Giants

After nearly a full week of free agency, former Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay has found a new home. Per Ian Rapoport, Golladay will be signing a deal with New York Giants. The terms: four years, $72 million with $40 million guaranteed.

Golladay, one of Detroit’s best draft picks during the Bob Quinn era, never appeared to be in the Lions’ plans once general manager Brad Holmes took over in January. The Lions opted to pass on using the franchise tag on Golladay, and there were no indications Detroit was in on negotiations, which is no surprise considering Detroit was up against the cap and not prepared to pay a receiver with that kind of a price tag during a rebuilding year.

That being said, it’s clear Holmes had a lot of respect for Golladay as a player.

“I don’t think there’s any debate that Kenny has shown the ability to be a No. 1 receiver in this league,” Holmes said a couple of weeks ago. “With that skill set that everybody knows he has, that we all know he has, and being at where we’re at a roster standpoint, there’s also been no debate that Kenny has been at the forefront of our mind in terms of making sure that we make the best possible decision for not only the Lions but for Kenny.”

Golladay’s career with the Lions ends with 183 catches, 3,068 yards, and 21 touchdowns. He leaves with one Pro Bowl under his belt.

As for the Lions, they have some work to do at the wide receiver position. In addition to Golladay, they’ve seen both Marvin Jones Jr. and Jamal Agnew agree to terms with other teams (coincidentally both the Jaguars), while they’ve only added Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman to their own squad. Detroit still needs to add at least one receiver, likely someone who will contend for a starting job.

The good news: the Lions will likely recoup a third-round compensatory pick for letting Golladay walk.