Ebony Bird
FanSided

Free Agency: Signing Golden Tate would be a classic Ravens move

By Chris Schisler

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Golden Tate #19 of the Philadelphia Eagles avoids the tackle attempt of P.J. Williams #26 of the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Golden Tate #19 of the Philadelphia Eagles avoids the tackle attempt of P.J. Williams #26 of the New Orleans Saints during the first quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Baltimore Ravens need wide receiver help once again. Golden Tate would be a classic Ravens move:

Golden Tate is a 31 year old wide receiver coming off a 74 reception season so naturally he has to be on the Baltimore Ravens radar. The best wide receivers in Ravens history have come via trade or free agency (Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason and Steve Smith Sr.). The Ravens could go with a familiar tactic and sign a free agent wide receiver to lead the way for their pass catchers.

Golden Tate was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2018 season and could become an unrestricted free agent barring a franchise tag. Spending half the season in Detroit and half in Philadelphia, Tate had 74 receptions for 795 yards and four touchdowns. Tate had four straight 90 reception seasons with the Lions and it looks like that kind of production is still a possibility. Tate was on pace for a fifth straight season with 90 receptions before being traded.

Lamar Jackson needs reliability more than anything from his wide receivers. Whatever you think of Michael Crabtree, reliability was not what he offered the 2018 Ravens. Tate is a catching machine who gets open better than most of the wide receivers in the NFL. Tate won’t be cheap, but because of his age he shouldn’t set the peak of the market. The Ravens will have competition for Tate but if they want him, they can get him.

More from Ebony Bird

As long as he stays healthy, Tate could have another meaningful stint in the NFL. Steve Smith Sr. played 16 seasons in the NFL. Derrick Mason played for 15 years. Tate has plenty of football remaining in the tank. His age isn’t really a concern for the Ravens, who could get five to six good years out of him in the best case scenario.

Tate is a wide receiver who can do it all. Yes, he has a similar build and style to Willie Snead. There’s no reason that Tate and Snead can’t work well in tandem. Tate would be the number one option, Snead would be the reliable slot receiver and Mark Andrews and Hayden Hurst would add nicely the nucleus of pass catching talent. If the Ravens bring in Tate and add a promising rookie in the NFL Draft, the Ravens could have a nice offense for Jackson to work with.

dark. Next. Wide Receivers to target in draft by round

Tate to the Ravens makes so much sense it makes more sense than two plus two equals four. If the Ravens are going to turn to free agency to give the offense play-makers, Tate should probably be the first player Eric DeCosta calls.

Home/Ravens News