The New York Giants have released veteran wide receiver Golden Tate in a move to preserve salary cap space.
The #Giants are releasing veteran WR Golden Tate, saving $6.2M in cap space, per @AdamSchefter. Tate spent just two seasons with New York, recording 84 receptions for 1,064 yards and 8 TDs.
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) March 3, 2021
Tate likely expected the move and issued his thanks to the Giants organization via social media writing in part:
“I appreciate the conversations and professionalism of the Giants management showed me earlier today. Always a class act organization from start to finish. Your respect means the world to me and my family.”
Tate had a rocky relationship with Giants Coach Joe Judge during the 2020 season.
His wife even got in on the act criticizing her husband’s lack of use.
Golden Tate’s wife slams Giants hours before NFL trade deadline | ‘FEED HIM THE BALL!’ https://t.co/R5FKSCuzbN pic.twitter.com/BmiCnE6eAU
— njdotcom (@njdotcom) November 3, 2020
In the end, Judge benched Tate which effectively ended the disagreement.
Golden Tate is 32 years old and still wants to play.
He can bring veteran experience to an NFL team perhaps at a bargain price.
78 seconds of Golden Tate going out of his way to humiliate whichever defensive back he just scored on pic.twitter.com/aXd9wMIPTc
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) November 7, 2020
Here are three of the best fits for him.
Spoiler alert: he played for two of them before.
1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks drafted Golden Tate in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft (60th overall).
Tate came to the Seahawks the same year Pete Carroll was named the head coach.
He also was part of the Super Bowl Champion team from the 2013 season and was one of Russell Wilson‘s favorite targets.
Tate left the Seahawks after the Super Bowl when his rookie contract expired.
Golden Tate could reunite with his former teammates and team with the Seahawks newest breakout star DK Metcalf.
2. Detroit Lions
The Lions have a new head coach and quarterback; however, Golden Tate has good memories from his playing days there.
After leaving Seattle, Tate joined the Lions and remained with them through 2018.
He was teamed with Megatron, aka Calvin Johnson, and the two were excellent targets for Matthew Stafford.
While Stafford is gone, Jared Goff may welcome a veteran target like Golden Tate who spent a significant chunk of his career in the Motor City.
3. New England Patriots
This is the only team on the list that Golden Tate has not played for.
There is no doubt that the Patriots offense needs help.
Besides a starting quarterback, the team is short of talented tight ends.
In addition, Julian Edelman‘s status is unknown.
Golden Tate could bring a welcome set of veteran hands to the Patriots offense.
Coach Bill Belichick is not afraid to tap on veteran receivers to jump start his offense.
His roster has included Randy Moss, Antonio Brown, and Josh Gordon in the past.
Golden Tate’s New York Giants Statistics
Whoever picks up Golden Tate will expect to get a bargain contract.
His production sharply declined from 2019 to 2020.
In 2019 he had 6 touchdowns and 676 yards receiving; whereas in 2020, he had 2 touchdowns on 388 yards receiving.
Tate was expected to earn $4.7 million from the Giants in 2021.
He still has game so he will get another chance, but he needs to keep his wife’s complaints about his workplace off of social media.
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