Philadelphia Eagles: Grading the Golden Tate trade

The Philadelphia Eagles knew that if they were going to get back into the thick of the NFC race, they had to make some sort of bold move.

Improving their offensive firepower was at the top of the list, preferably at wide receiver where injuries have played havoc with them this year. Thankfully the Detroit Lions came to their rescue It became apparent that age and a hefty contract were starting to make wide receiver Golden Tate difficult to hang onto. This despite him being on track for another 1,000-yard season with over 500 yards in seven games.

Yet with the rise of young Kenny Golladay alongside Marvin Jones, they felt they could afford to move him out. The Eagles pounced on the opportunity, shipping a 3rd round pick to the Lions in exchange for the veteran former Pro Bowler. In typical fashion, it wasn’t any insider or newspaperman who broke the news. It was Tate himself, always doing things on his terms.

This could be a deal that works out for both the Eagles and the Lions

Examining the landscape of the deal, it’s hard to see any sort of downside for either team. Let’s start with Detroit. They lose a productive receiver, yes. However, he was likely gone in 2019 anyway. They have two quality receivers in place to pick up the slack, gain valuable cap space and receive a solid 3rd round pick for their troubles. Considering they signed him as a free agent in 2014 and got three 1,000-yard seasons from him, that’s a good deal.

On the flip side, the Eagles had little to lose too. They have an abundance of draft picks in 2019 with 11 total. Giving up a 3rd rounder for a productive player to help their efforts to defend their Super Bowl championship makes perfect sense in that context. Tate is a bit of an unusual fit in their system but he’s a smart player who should be able to find a role before too long. He’ll be a big help getting first downs and scoring touchdowns, something they need to improve.

Grade: B+