Detroit Lions should sign Golden Tate as a free agent
The Detroit Lions missed wide receiver Golden Tate when he was traded away midseason. Could a reunion take place this offseason via free agency?
The Detroit Lions waved a white flag on their season when they traded wide receiver Golden Tate to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2019 third-round selection in late October. Tate’s exodus combined with a season-ending knee injury suffered by wideout Marvin Jones Jr. decimated an already struggling Lions’ passing attack.
The lone bright spot for Detroit’s passing game was the emergence of second-year wide receiver Kenny Golladay. The 2017 third rounder posted his first 1,000 receiving yard season on 70 receptions. He also caught five touchdowns.
Without Tate and Jones on the field, Golladay along with backup receivers like T.J. Jones, Andy Jones and rookie Brandon Powell failed to pick up their slack. The Lions’ passing game was a shell of itself in 2018, ranking 20th in the NFL averaging 224 yards a game through the air. The season prior Detroit fielded a top-ten passing offense, throwing for an average of 261 yards per contest, sixth highest in the league.
The trade of Tate could end up being seen as a brilliant move by this current Lions’ regime, especially if they nail their 2109 third round pick in the upcoming draft. But what if Lions could have their cake and Golden too?
In Philadelphia, the nine-year veteran failed to meet expectations, recording only 30 receptions for 278 yards and one score in eight regular season games. That was after Tate posted 44 catches for 517 yards and three touchdowns in his first eight games for Detroit.
In the playoffs, Tate racked up five catches for 46 yards and a touchdown for Philly in a victory over the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card round. But he recorded just two receptions for 18 yards against the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round and the Eagles were eliminated.
Scheduled to become a free agent in 2019, it’s unclear if Philadelphia will re-sign the 30-year old receiver or not. There seems to be a real possibility he hits free agency. If so, the Lions should pounce on bringing the talented slot receiver back to Motown.
Despite his age, Tate showed he could record his normal 90+ receptions in Detroit, a feat he accomplished his first four years as a Lion. His chemistry with quarterback Matthew Stafford is unquestioned. The biggest obstacle standing in the way of Tate retiring as a Lion was always money.
Having posted number one receiver production for several seasons, the aging wideout apparently wants to be paid like one. Rumors surfaced last season that Tate’s camp wanted something in the range of Jarvis Landry money in a possible extension. The Cleveland Browns receiver inked a five-year, $75.5 million last April. Of course, Landry is also four-years younger than Tate.
Next. Lions all-time wide receivers in the ‘Tecmo Bowl’ era. dark
After a somewhat disappointing half-season in Philadelphia and a cooling free agent market unlikely wanting to spend big money on a veteran turning 31-years old in August, suddenly returning to the familiar in the Motor City could be a very attractive option for Golden Tate. And the Detroit Lions could actually get their star receiver back at a discount.