Since 2008 the Lions have been looking to land a number two wide receiver who could completement Calvin Johnson and give Matthew Stafford another reliable wide receiver to throw to. Now the Lions believe they have found their man as the team announced the signing of Golden Tate.
Tate is signing a five-year deal, worth $31M and $13.25 million guaranteed, and is the first big name wide receiver off the board. The former Seattle Sehawks wide receiver will now pair next to Johnson and hopefully add another strong option in the passing game. The 25-year-old wide receiver out of Notre Dame spent his last four seasons with the Seahawks, posting a career-high 64 receptions, 894 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season as a key contributor for the Seahawks' Super Bowl run. Now Tate gets the long-term deal he was looking for and a team where he will get plenty of looks as Johnson draws double coverage all game.
Detroit was linked to several wide receivers during the offseason including Tate, James Jones and Eric Decker. Tate can sit back on screens and short routes, using his speed to get open and create plays. Stafford will love Tate's playmaking ability with the ball in his hands, taking short passes 40 yards down the field, and working as an excellent second option to Johnson. Working as the Lions number two wide receiver on a team that threw the ball over 600 times last season and 720 attempts in 2012, Tate is now in great position to improve upon his career season and potentially eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career.
The move especially makes sense for a Lions team that has been wanting another reliable wide receiver and a player who can do magic with the ball in his hands. While Johnson works stretching the field and beating secondaries with his size and strength, Tate will be working underneath in single coverage exploting secondaries and making people miss. Signing Tate also gives Detroit the flexibility to hold the 10th overall pick and take a defensive player, and they no longer have to trade up for a top guy like Sammy Watkins. The Lions had money to spend and while they were quiet on the first day, they found their man on Wednesday.
It's a great move for both sides, and one that will help put the Lions one step closer to potentially winning the NFC North in 2014. Now with their full stockade of draft picks, they have options to take another wide receiver if the value is right, or fill needs in the secondary.