The one move I'd love to see, unlikely as it is

[kearly]

Not that I think it has much chance of happening, but I'd love to see Seattle get an extension done for Golden Tate. As great as Harvin is, Tate is on a very nice trajectory right now and it would not surprise me in the slightest if he was our leading WR next season.

Despite some highlight reel game winning catches and having some advanced stats in his corner that football geeks like me love, Tate remains just an "average" WR in terms of national perception. If he were a free agent today, what kind of money do you think he'd get? Personally, I'd guess that he'd get quite a bit less than Hartline (1000 yard season in 2012) or Danny Amendola (desperation move by Pats). I'm thinking that a 5/25 type deal would probably get it done for Tate right now, perhaps less.

You can never have too many good WRs. Tate was near the very top of the NFL in catch rate the last two years and was nearly #1 in yards per target in 2012. He was clearly Wilson's favorite target in the 2nd half of the 2012 season which coincided with the offense taking off like a rocket. He turns 25 just before the start of the preseason, and has the kind of physique and skillset that could age very well in the NFL. He stays healthy, he's consistent, he's very good, he's under-rated, and he's still improving.

This hasn't gone unnoticed by our coaching staff. Less than two weeks ago, Pete Carroll talked at length about the need to get Tate the football even more.

I don't have Scottemojo's confidence in a UFA Tate returning to Seattle in 2014, though in a just universe he would. Tate plays a different spot than Harvin and some have noted substantial difference between the two in terms of style and usage, particular Pete Carroll himself. But money is going to be in scarce supply next offseason and tough decisions are coming. If Tate finally makes the league notice him this year by posting a 1000 yard season, our chance at retaining him on a value contract could be lost, and he could end up as good as gone.

Would Golden Tate take a moderate contract offer at this point? He might not. But it's at least worth a few months of trying. He's best buds with his QB, and I'm sure he can't be thrilled about leaving the NFL's best team to play for. You know he's feeling insecure right now because of the Harvin addition. Maybe he jumps at the chance for an extension. I think it's at least worth a try.

 

[Hawknballs]

ive already been on the 'extend tate' bandwagon since the season ended. Don't have to convince me. He's one of my favorite players on the team.

 

[RolandDeschain]

I don't want to see Tate leave because I think he's about to be a VERY good receiver, and I don't want to watch some other scrub throw him the ball while he has a great career. I'd be annoyed we were his training wheels for three years, in a scenario like that.

Either way, I really hope we keep him.

 

[Throwdown]

I'm personally gonna need more than one season to make a long term commitment to him, just me though.

 

[kearly]

A great comment from that article which really highlights the value of efficiency stats:

Something that many football fans could likely deduce for themselves is that Percy Harvin led all receivers with broken tackles last year, even though he only played 9 games (19). What the passing fan probably doesn’t know is that the most RELIABLE tackle breaker in the NFL, by quite a bit, is Golden Tate. He had 45 catches and 14 broken tackles. Wow. That’s more than 30% of his catches with a broken tackle. Tate also had more than 15 YPC. With his catch rate and YPC and touchdowns per catch, give him the same targets as Megatron and he has 136 catches, for 2081 yards and 21 TDs.

Wow.

 

[JSeahawks]

I like Tate and wouldn't mind at all if he's given an extension, but he seems like a dime a dozen receiver to me.

 

[kearly]

Not to me. His catch rate and resilience after the catch are at "elite of the elite" levels. The only other WR in the league that can say the same is Percy Harvin. I think if Tate didn't see so few targets, the perception about him would be very different.

I think Tate was probably an average WR in 2011, as testified by his 10.3 yards per catch. He had 15.3 yards per catch in 2012. Over his last 7 games (Chicago to Atlanta), he had 17.4 yards per catch. He may not get a ton of targets, but every time he's targeted, it's basically the same as targeting an all-pro WR.

I think he's a pro-bowl caliber player that's buried on (IMO) one of the best NFL rosters of all time. I hope we keep him. I've probably made this analogy before, but Tate's situation with us reminds me a little of James Harden being buried on that OKC Thunder roster. He went to the Rockets last offseason and- not having to compete for the ball anymore- broke out as an NBA star. His absence was sorely felt in OKC as well, even though he was just their 3rd best player at the time.

 

[Cartire]

I disagree that he would get less then hartline. GM's are quite aware of his YAC.

 

[Anonymous]

What about waiting until later in the season to do what you are suggesting?

Not the same message/benefit?

 

[themunn]

I'd rather see us extend Tate now, but at the end of this year almost certainly it's going to be Tate or Rice that stays with the team, and I know which one is more likely to stay

 

[kearly]

What about waiting until later in the season to do what you are suggesting?

Not the same message/benefit?

Any time is good, I just think the sooner the better.

I disagree that he would get less then hartline. GM's are quite aware of his YAC.

Maybe, but the media sure as hell isn't.

 

[Ruminator]

Because Tate was the difference between an L and a W in at least a couple games last season (W being the result), and with no drop-off this season, I have to think the FO is going to try everything they can to sign him to another contract.

 

[kobebryant]

Nice write up.

Not that I doubt you, but where does the evidence that he is best buds with Wilson come from?

 

[onanygivensunday]

I definitely want the Hawks to extend Golden.

And 5/25 added on to this year's contract seems very reasonable to me.

It would be great to have both Tate and Harvin for the next 6 years.

Their YAC are a real bonus. Must be due to their RB backgrounds.

Schneids... Do it, brother!!

 

[Hawknballs]

if we resign him Tate and Harvin are going to need a nickname because they are going to gauge defenses.

 

[Tical21]

I LOVE Golden Tate. I have been a huge apologist and saw something in his juice from day one. One of my very favorite players on the team. If he were to be extended, I would go out that day and buy a jersey. But I don't think it is the best thing for the team. He's too redundant. If we didn't have Percy, absolutely, done, gotta have him. But the greater need to me is a bigger receiver that can work the hitch and post more effectively. I would rather throw money at that. Since we have Harvin locked up, I place more importance on signing quite a few guys before Golden now. I would rather lock up Golden than any of our LB's and maybe Browner. But if signing him kept us from getting a prototypical #1 WR or keeping a guy I view as a more important piece of our core, I don't see him as that important. I would rather have a good big receiver, Percy, and some guy in the slot than I would Percy, Golden and some guy playing the big receiver role.

I also would tend to believe he would like to test the market. Lets face it, even if he were to be our #1 WR, which I cannot see happening, he probably wouldn't catch as many balls as he would as the #2 for some, or even the #1 on teams without any WR talent. I think the odds are that he receives the third amount of snaps at the WR position this year, and would think he wants more than that.

 

[Subzero717]

I couldn't stand Tate until last year. Now I love the little bugger. I think we should do everything to keep him but I'll wait and see. I don't think it's as dire if Harvin shows up. If the FO felt as strong about Tate maybe they wouldn't have made that type of investment in Harvin? That's me free lancing, duh.

 

[SirTed]

I think the Hawks have every intention of resigning Tate. I think it's Rice that's the odd man out - although I get it that you're sort of emphasizing the "extension now" aspect of it.

 

[bestfightstory]

I have to believe an extension is or has already been considered/attempted/proposed/negotiated/discussed, Etc.
This front office knows what it is doing. They locked up both
Unger and Kam before absolutely necessary-if they felt it was
vital to do the same with Tate, they would make the effort.

 

[formido]

Other high quality analysts have noticed this too. The following is from a recent article on PFF called Secret Superstar: Golden Tate.

After catching just three Deep Passes in his first two seasons, Tate tripled that number in 2012. His 343 yards on deep targets were among the Top 20 totals in the NFL, ahead of Andre Johnson and right behind Roddy White.

With a 69.2% completion rate, seven touchdowns, and one interception on his throws to Tate, the duo’s 133.0 WR Rating was the second-highest in the NFL for any QB-WR tandem with over 20 targets. And as further signs of the chemistry between the two, Tate’s 114 receiving yards on quarterback scramble plays was the fourth-highest total of any wideout in the league.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2 ... lden-tate/

Tate has elite efficiency. I really hope we keep him because I think he's additive with Harvin. After going all of 2011 with ZERO drops, Tate "fell" to #10 in catch rate. Harvin was #2. When you spread the field with several highly efficient receivers, but don't make it easy on DCs by making an obvious #1 target, the whole becomes greater than the already incredible parts.

Not only good hands, but of course the #1 broken tackle percentage in the NFL, as has been mentioned. Then Harvin at #3. Then Wilson at #2 among QBs. And Lynch, who aside from breaking tackles, carries tacklers with him several yards down the field. The more players of this elite, physical, elusive, tackle breaking players you have on the field at once...it just ramps up the deadliness.