The Detroit Lions have many pressing needs to address, and it is never too early to speculate what the near future will bring. Will the Lions bring back Golden Tate?
With the Detroit Lions‘ finally hiring a new offensive coordinator in Darrell Bevell last week, they can move on to address other areas of need on their roster.
And there are plenty.
General manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia must make a quantum leap in building the Lions’ roster as they enter year two of their marriage. The upcoming period of free agency and the NFL Draft present an opportunity to further implement their vision for the franchise.
There are plenty of decisions to be made, and one of particular intrigue involves a possible reunion with wide receiver Golden Tate, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles at the trade deadline.
My prediction: Golden Tate will not return to the Lions in 2019.
Soon after the Lions dealt Tate, I was one of many who believed that Quinn made the move to set up a long con. Acknowledging that the Lions were never really a true contender in 2018 (in spite of a 3-4 record at the time), Quinn sold high.
Instead of waiting on a compensatory draft pick in 2020 for Tate’s departure, Quinn saw the opportunity to acquire that pick for this April’s draft instead, with the theoretical opportunity to re-sign the fan favorite when he hits the free agent market in March. After all, MMQB reported that the Lions offered Tate a contract extension before they traded him, so there was obvious interest in retaining his services.
The hiring of Bevell offers little clarity in how that may affect Tate’s interest in returning to the Motor City. Though he emerged as the number-one receiver with the Seattle Seahawks under Bevell’s coordination of the offense, a run-heavy approach may not be the most attractive option to an aging slot receiver.
Bevell and Patricia’s obsession with establishing a powerful rushing attack to set up the play action may devalue a player like Tate, in their own eyes. Why fork over upwards of $13 million annually for a complimentary receiver, even with Tate’s skill set, when he will not be as much of a priority on offense?
As it goes with all NFL signings and negotiations, it’s a two-way street. As much as Tate may have enjoyed his time in Detroit, he never agreed to the terms offered. With only one more big contract remaining in his career, it is in his best personal interest to test the open market anyway.
In addition to that, Tate’s own comments after the Eagles’ NFC Divisional playoff loss suggested he is looking to join a true contender.
“My time is limited. I want to go to a team that has a chance.” pic.twitter.com/UkausBQc0W
— Geoff Mosher (@GeoffPMosher) January 14, 2019
Does he consider the Lions close enough to sign with them, if the franchise is still interested in bringing him back? It’s difficult to say, but Tate probably was able to get a good feel for the pulse of the Lions’ direction prior to his October trade.
In my opinion, there will be no reunion between Tate and the Lions this off season. As much as I would like to see it, and believe that his skills and familiarity with Bevell’s system and the rest of his former teammates make it a natural fit, I see his asking price to be too high for the Lions to make the move.
The Lions just have too many other pressing needs.