With each passing day, the impasse between Kenny Golladay and the Lions grows a little more peculiar. And a little more likely to result in a split.
If the Lions were willing to meet Golladay's contract demands, they would have done so by now. Golladay said as much last month. If Golladay were willing to take a hometown discount, he would have done so by now.
The latter almost certainly isn't happening. Golladay made that clear with a not-so-veiled message for the Lions on Instagram last week after notching another 100-yard receiving games against the Jaguars: "This sh*t gone cost you!"
So the Lions have three options here. They can give Golladay the big-money extension the market says he's worth, they can franchise tag him next season, or they can bid farewell to one of the best receivers in the NFL. Then the question becomes whether they deal him before the Nov. 3 trade deadline or simply let him walk as a free agent after this season.
What's Golladay worth? About $17-18 million per year. A five-year, $90 million deal is a reasonable ask, and an offer Golladay would surely fetch as a free agent. The franchise tag will likely cost Detroit at least $18 million next season.
Golladay has suggested over the past couple months that talks between his agent and the Lions aren't getting very far. Matt Patricia declined to offer an update on Thursday.
"Kenny’s a phenomenal player," he said. "He had some unbelievable plays (last week). He’s a great part of our team, he’s dynamic, and I love being around him and I love coaching him. It’s fun for me. I don’t want to get into anything outside of that."
Asked if he views Golladay as a long-term player for the Lions, Patricia said, "Again, I think for us, I’ll probably just focus on Atlanta and what we’re doing this week. I don’t really get into all that stuff. I think I probably expressed pretty strongly how I feel about him as a player.”
That's nice, but Golladay doesn't want their kind words. He wants his money. And the Lions would be wise to give it to him. Marvin Jones is in the last year of his deal and seemingly on the decline. Same for Danny Amendola. If they let Golladay go, what are the Lions left with at receiver? Quintez Cephus isn't exactly a No. 1.
The Lions were in a similar situation with Golden Tate in 2018. He wanted money they weren't wiling to give him -- money he knew he'd secure on the open market -- so they shipped him to the Eagles at the deadline for a third-round pick. The difference is that Tate was 30 years old, his peak was behind him and the Lions were deep at receiver.
Golladay, on the other hand, is 27 and just entering his prime. Tate said it himself last season: "That guy can be the best receiver in the league." And the Lions' outlook at the position is decidedly less promising than it was two years ago. Detroit can afford to extend Golladay much more than it can afford to lose him, and Golladay knows it.
Because here's the other difference between now and 2018: Patricia and Bob Quinn are under the gun. They can't trade an elite offensive player in the name of the future, because they don't have a future to depend on. Golladay represents one of their best hopes of winning the games they need to win this season.
Yes, the Lions have the franchise tag in their backpocket. But Golladay has the leverage in the long run. Either he'll get the payday he deserves, or he'll be gone when the situation allows it. Maybe sooner.