Steelers reach deal for former Cardinals LB Markus Golden

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing former Arizona Cardinals veteran Markus Golden to a one-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The linebacker started his career with the Cardinals before spending two seasons with the Giants and joining Arizona again in 2020.

Golden hit the free agency market in March once his deal with the Cardinals ran out. He was playing on a one-year extension worth $6.5 million. The figures on his new deal with Pittsburgh aren’t yet public.

The newest Steelers confirmed the news on Twitter on Wednesday.

Let’s HUNT!! #Steelers

— Markus Golden (@markusgolden) May 24, 2023

He played all 17 games in 2022, racking up 48 tackles with 2.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss.

In 2021, Golden had another 48 tackles but notched 11 sacks. It was his third season with more than 10 sacks and caused the Cardinals to re-up on him for another season. When the team released him in March, they cleared roughly $3 million in cap space for 2023.

Golden was a second-round draft pick out of Missouri. The Cardinals grabbed him at No. 58 overall in 2015. He repaid them with 16.5 sacks over the next two seasons, as well as six forced fumbles.

The 32-year-old linebacker now joins his third NFL team as he heads into his ninth season.

In 2019, Golden led the Giants with 10 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. He missed significant time in 2017 due to a torn ACL and again in 2018 due to an ankle injury but he’s remained relatively healthy recently.

The Steelers can definitely use Golden’s help in 2023. This offseason saw the departures of Devin Bush and Robert Spillane via free agency.

On top of the Golden addition, the Steelers have also bolstered the defense via the draft. They drafted talented linebacker Nick Herbig in the fourth round. Pittsburgh also picked up free agents Elandon Roberts and Cole Holcomb.

Steelers working on extension for Alex Highsmith

Alex Highsmith had a breakout season for the Steelers in 2022, finishing with 14.5 sacks, which ranked in the top 10 in the NFL.

The former Charlotte 49ers star could soon be rewarded for his play last year with a new long-term deal.

According to NFL insider Dov Kleiman, the Steelers and Highsmith are working on a “long-term extension.”

Highsmith is entering the final year of his contract after being drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. His 14.5 sacks were the sixth-most in the NFL in 2022, while he tied for the NFL lead in forced fumbles with five.

On3’s Matt Connolly contributed to this report.