Why the Lions were right to not tag Kenny Golladay
Golladay #Golladay
Kenny Golladay will be an unrestricted free agent when the NFL league year changes over to 2021 on March 17th. The Detroit Lions are letting the receiver hit the open market and will not use the franchise tag or transition tag to lock up No. 19.
The franchise tag would have been a temporary solution to a long-term problem. Kicking the contractual can down the road for a year makes no sense, not for either side. Golladay risks having another down year or another injury. The new Lions regime clearly didn’t see Golladay as being worthy of featured receiver status in a new-look offense built more around the intermediate passing game and timing throws.
Not that Golladay wanted to still be around. Despite intense negotiations last summer with the old Bob Quinn/Matt Patricia regime, Golladay turned down more money than the franchise tag value of $15.8 million over a much longer period.
The exact details of those negotiations are unknown, but during that time period — the week before the 2020 NFL season kicked off — Golladay rejected a deal that would have paid him at least $16 million per season to stay in Detroit long-term. More recent reports indicate the deal Golladay rejected was for at least $18 million a season.
That’s indicative of a player who wants to capitalize on his status and cash in for every last penny. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with Golladay wanting to do so. It’s his one shot to break the bank, no one should blame him for taking it.
But it’s also not wrong for the Lions to pass on paying Golladay that kind of money. There is a chicken vs. egg argument on Golladay and his contested catch ability with Matthew Stafford as the quarterback. It’s Golladay’s calling card and there aren’t many better than No. 19 at making tough catches while being tightly covered. But that’s a niche; not every quarterback will attempt the throws that resulted in those contested catches, but that never dissuaded Stafford and his rocket arm from giving him the chance. Jared Goff? Yeah, he’s not even thinking about making those throws.
It’s the right time to make the tough decision. With a new regime, a new offense, a new quarterback who may or may not be the long-term answer and generally lowered fan expectations, it’s the perfect time to rip off the bandage and watch Golladay get paid like a rock star elsewhere. Leave the past behind and build for the future.
The chances of Golladay sticking around for one more season and then coming back to be part of the future when the Lions are expected to be back to playoff aspirations are lower than his 1.9 yards of average separation per route, the lowest in the NFL. It’s not what fans necessarily want to hear, but it’s the right move for the Lions. And for Golladay, too.
Golladay had a nice run in Detroit. He’s arguably the best draft decision Bob Quinn ever made, a third-round pick who played his way into leading the NFL in touchdown receptions in his third season and should cash in on one of the richest contracts ever given to a wide receiver. That’s not where Detroit is at right now, not with the salary cap situation or the beginning of a new era.
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