Detroit Lions: Predictions for five important free agents
Kenny Golladay
Position: Wide Receiver
Age: 27
2020 Statistics: 5 games played, 20 receptions, 338 yards, 2 touchdowns
2020 base Salary: $2.133 million
After agreeing to trade Stafford to the Rams last week, the Lions quickly answered the biggest roster question that was facing them this offseason. The next major decision will be what to do with their best wide receiver. Fortunately for them, they are in control of his status, at least in the short term.
It can be argued that Golladay is the most talented receiver to suit up for the Lions since recent Hall-of-Fame selection Calvin Johnson retired following the 2015 season. So why wouldn’t you do everything you can to make sure he’s wearing Lions colors for as long as possible?
Clearly, it’s not that simple. It was widely speculated that the Lions and Golladay would agree on a long-term pact at some point during 2020. However, that never happened, and the situation became more complicated after Golladay missed all but five games last season with injuries.
Currently, the Lions have just second-year man Quintez Cephus and veteran Geronimo Allison (who opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic) under contract at receiver for 2021. For a team that has too frequently been unable to retain its best players in their prime, the Lions would essentially be starting from scratch at the position should Golladay not return.
It’s not entirely clear how much Golladay wants to be in Detroit at this point, particularly with Stafford no longer throwing to him. The Lions can retain him with the franchise tag, and the possibility remains that the new front office can strike a long term pact with him.
Still, a rebuilding team needs to be careful how they allocate expensive contracts, and Golladay’s injury-plagued season needs to be taken into account, as well as his age. He will turn 28 mid-way through the 2021 campaign; he lost a season of college eligibility due to a transfer between the University of North Dakota and the University of Northern Illinois in 2015.
28 isn’t necessarily old for a receiver. but consider that three of the NFL’s best wideouts, Tyreek Hill of the Kansas City Chiefs, DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals, and Michael Thomas of the New Orleans Saints, signed their second contracts when they were considerably younger than Golladay. Could this consideration expand the impasse between the two sides?
Golladay will get paid handsomely by someone in 2021, and it could still be the Lions. All the delays and lack of progress though have made a long-term agreement between the two sides look less and less likely.
Prediction: Golladay returns to the Lions on the franchise tag, but the two sides are unable to come to a long-term agreement, making 2021 his last year in Detroit.