Lions’ Golden Tate Drawing Trade Interest

Could the Lions trade Golden Tate before Tuesday’s deadline? That’s what other teams want to know, as the Lions have been receiving calls of interest in the wide receiver (video link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 

Pelissero hears that that Lions could be willing to part with Tate if they’re offered a fourth-round draft pick. For all of his accomplishments, Tate amounts to a rental for interested clubs, so his market is somewhat limited.

At the same time, the 3-4 Lions are very much alive in the sardine-packed NFC North, so one has to wonder why Detroit would settle for a mid-round draft pick. The Lions may be tempted to increase targets for Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones, but Tate remains a dangerous weapon as evidenced by his two 100+ yard games earlier this year.

Tate is in the final year of his five-year, $31MM pact. If another team acquires him this week, they’ll be on the hook for 9/17ths of his $7MM salary, which amounts to roughly $3.7MM.

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