Detroit Lions: Is extending Golden Tate the next big move?

The Detroit Lions are molding their roster in preparation for the 2018 season, but a big extension could be coming for wide receiver Golden Tate.

The draft is in the review mirror and the Detroit Lions have been signing undrafted free agents to round out the 90-man roster. These fringe players will be added and released over the coming months as general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia work to get their team in the best position to win football games. But what is their next big move?

According to the Detroit Free Press, extending star wide receiver Golden Tate might be inching its way up the list. Now, the publication isn’t saying the transaction is imminent. They’re simply sharing the words of Tate.

"“Guys are getting paid a looot of money,” Tate told the Detroit Free Press on Friday. “There’s guys who aren’t even every-down receivers who are getting paid a lot of money, so that’s obviously refreshing as a receiver to see going into this market here soon.”"

Well, everyone wants to get paid. Tate, on the other hand, has reason to be optimistic. He’s been producing at a high level for the Lions and has shown his value when he gets the ball in his hands. Last year alone, Tate produced 92 receptions for 1,003 yards and 5 touchdowns.

For a quick comparison, new Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry posted 112 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns. Landry had more catches for fewer yards, but also more trips to the end zone. And he just signed a five-year, $75 million contract.

Landry is actually the perfect comparison to Tate as they both grab a lot of short passes and put defenders on skates to gain extra yards. This tweet from Pro Football Focus has both players listed in the top five for forcing missed tackles.

Tate has a few more than Landry, but they are both up there. Yet Tate has been doing this since before Landry was even in the league. Just check out this stat for the past five years.

For those math whizzes out there, that’s an average of 23.2 forced missed tackles per season. Tate has been doing his job for this Lions team. With his contract expiring at the end of the 2018 season, he’ll be looking to get paid handsomely for his services. And he’s earned it.

The question is, will the Detroit Lions be in a position to open the pocketbook? It’s never a great position for a team to handicap themselves against the salary cap, but you also need to retain talent when you can.

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It appears the Detroit Lions will see how Golden Tate fits into the gameplan under Matt Patricia before making their decision. If everything remains the same, the price tag for Tate’s services might go up. Here’s hoping he has a big year, helps win some games and earns that new money.