New York Jets: Golden Tate trade should be considered

The New York Jets should consider trading for Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate if the reports are true on what their asking price is.

The MLB Trade Deadline usually gets a lot of buzz, but when the NFL Trade Deadline comes, it usually ends with a whimper. It certainly doesn’t get the attention that the MLB deadline does, but there are quality players that are on the trade block, and that makes things interesting. The Detroit Lions are shopping Golden Tate, as reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, and the New York Jets should consider a trade.

If the Jets do trade for Tate, two things matter. The first thing is that they’d have to re-sign him to a long-term deal. They have enough cap space to make this move and re-sign him. So that’s not a huge issue, but they’ll have to make sure he’s more than a rental, and he’s still performing and doesn’t look like he’s slowing down. So re-signing him wouldn’t be a bad decision.

The most important thing is how much it’ll cost the Jets in terms of compensation. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via the Detroit News), Detroit will trade him if they’re blown away, but the price isn’t that high to be blown away.

"“I can tell you that the Lions have been fielding calls, as teams have reached out about Tate. At this point, my understanding is it’s not likely Tate gets moved unless they get blown away with an offer.”Pelissero clarified that “blown away” would mean a mid-round draft pick, possibly a fourth-round selection."

If it’s only going to cost the Jets a fourth round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft — or even a third round pick — the Jets should trade for him. He’s not the No. 1 receiver that most people think the Jets need, but their No. 1 receiver is out, and will be back.

The Jets run the West Coast Offense, and the offense is based around short and intermediate passes and yards after catch with occasional shots downfield. At the moment, the Jets don’t have receivers who are production after the catch. With the return Quincy Enunwa and the addition of Tate, they would have two players who could produce YAC — one on the outside and one in the slot.

Both Enunwa and Tate have been primarily slot receivers in 2018. That said, they both have played enough snaps on the outside that they are interchangeable. When you add how Chris Herndon has played recently, the Jets would have three viable weapons for the West Coast Offense. The Jets need to make this move for both the present and the future of this organization.