The New England Patriots have had some trouble establishing their receiving corps going into the 2018 NFL season. As a result, rumors have surfaced about their potential interest in Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate.
The prospect of New England acquiring Tate before the regular season has come with mixed reviews. However, former Patriots' staffer Michael Lombardi feels there is plenty of truth to the report:
Golden Tate in the last year of his deal–and Mike Reiss does not throw stuff off the wall–makes sense to target him, reasonable price and fits their offense to a tee.
The idea of New England trading for a wideout like Tate is certainly not far-fetched on their end. The Patriots have long struck gold with established veterans becoming top targets for quarterback Tom Brady. They attempted to do so with a number of receivers this offseason, such as Kenny Britt, Eric Decker, and Jordan Matthews. However, those additions clearly have not panned out well for them, with all three now gone.
Although Tate is no spring chicken, he is still enjoying the best years of his career. He has thrived in the Lions' pass-heavy approach, registering three 1,000-yard campaigns over the last four seasons. The veteran has shown no signs of slowing down.
Unfortunately, there has not been much talk about his future beyond this season. New England's familiarity with the Lions' organization could help kickstart negotiations. However, the price may not be as cheap as they would like it to be. Despite now being 30, Tate has made it clear that he still hopes to be paid as a top wide receiver. The Patriots may have to decide whether or not a deal is even worth pursuing.
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