Detroit had been negotiating with Tate’s people since the summer.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Detroit Lions are getting ready to play their first game since trading Golden Tate to the Philadelphia Eagles.
But first, they offered him a contract extension before sending him packing.
That bit of news comes courtesy of MMQB, and isn’t exactly a surprise. Detroit had been negotiating with Tate’s people since the summer. The question was never whether the Lions would offer a new deal, but whether they’d be willing to meet Tate’s demands.
Tate is expected to ask for top dollar, which for a slot receiver, comes out to roughly $15 or $16 million per year. He’s not likely to get that because of his age — he’ll turn 31 before playing a down on the new deal — but is expected to find a competitive market in free agency. And the Lions’ trade of Tate now telegraphs their belief they’d be unable or unwilling to meet that price point.
The Tate trade is a blow to a team that sits just one game out of first place in the NFC North, but does net them a third-round pick in return, an excellent price for an aging receiver on an expiring contract.
The Lions will open the post-Tate era Sunday against Minnesota with Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones on the outside. Brandon Powell, TJ Jones and Andy Jones are all dressed and could contribute to some kind of committee to replace the club’s top man in the slot.
