Detroit Lions: Extending Kenny Golladay needs to be a priority for next GM
By Bob Heyrman
The first order of business for whomever Detroit Lions ownership hires to be the next general manager is to re-sign Kenny Golladay.
As the Detroit Lions enter yet again another rebuilding era, the first task for the teams’ new general manager will be to re-sign pending free agent receiver Kenny Golladay.
We’re just a year removed from Golladay leading the NFL with 11 touchdown receptions, that somewhat of a crooked number when you consider he played just eight games with franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford under center.
During those eight-games, Golladay recorded seven touchdowns totaling 640 yards on 35 receptions. The star receiver remained productive without Stafford, but it’s safe to say losing Stafford may have cost Golladay three touchdowns and a couple of hundred additional receiving yards.
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Golladay recorded four receiving touchdowns through the final eight games of the 2019 season while accumulating 550 yards on 30 more catches. That with the likes of David Blough and Jeff Driskel under center for the Lions.
In 2020 injuries have derailed the Lions’ top pass-catcher limiting him to just five games. During four of those five games, Golladay has been extremely impactful, making 20 receptions totaling 338 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions. Golladay was shutout in Detroit’s Week Eight matchup with the Indianapolis Colts; he hasn’t appeared in a game since. It’s worth noting, Detroit won three of those five football games that Golladay started this season.
The Detroit Lions will enter the offseason with their top-three wide receivers, all becoming free agents. There may not be a need to bring back Danny Amendola or even Marvin Jones, but it’s imperative that the organization brings back Golladay.
It isn’t easy to dish out about 25% of the teams’ cap space on a quarterback and receiver, but that’s market value, folks. It’s assumed Golladay will fetch an average of $20 million per season on his next deal.
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If we consider Golladay to be a top-eight, fringe top-five receiver, the team must pay him accordingly.