Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate has two years left on the five-year, $31 million deal he signed with the Lions as a free agent in 2014, but he’s already looking toward the future.
Tate announced on Twitter on Thursday that he’d like to sign an extension with the Lions that would keep him in the Motor City. The tweet came after New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman received a two-year contract extension that will pay him up to $19.5 million for the 2017-19 seasons.
I hope I'm one of the next ones to get extended….. big plays can come in all shapes and forms huh? https://t.co/Rsw1jBRPWU
— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) June 9, 2017
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While participating in Sam Martin’s charity softball game Saturday, Tate elaborated on his Twitter comment from Thursday, and also alluded to feeling that he’s not properly compensated for his on-field efforts.
“I saw my buddy get extended and that’s obviously the goal,” Tate explained. “I have this season and next season until I can really think about it, but it wasn’t nothing malicious or me hinting at it. I mean, I’m hinting at it in a few years, of course. But I’d love to stay here. I’m having a lot of fun, we have a great foundation, I love where we’re going but we’ll see. I still got time.”
When asked if he felt he was underpaid, Tate simply replied “Yup” before leaving to participate in the game.
“I would love to stay here as long as you guys accept me and want me here,” Tate said. “Like I said, I’m having fun, we’re starting to win games and that’s important. So hopefully Bob Quinn and Rod Wood and (Jim) Caldwell and Jim Bob (Cooter) want me around, and I’ll stay around as long as they’ll have me.”
Tate is almost certainly looking at the deals that wide receivers Kenny Britt, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Alshon Jeffrey all signed that average over $8 million a year. Tate will make $6 million this year and $7 million next year. His $6.2 million average ranks 25th overall in the NFL for receivers.
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Tate also said that there hadn’t been any contract extension talks yet, but he hopes they’ll take place soon.
“I think if, collectively if we win games and I do my part, I hope there’s talks,” Tate said. “But we’ll see. It’s a long way away as far as I’m concerned.”
