(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Holmes purposely kept all options on the table regarding Golladay and the wideout’s future with the team during his press conference earlier this week. I believe the Lions will use the franchise tag on No. 19.
Why?
Some of it is a function of the hand Holmes & Co. have been dealt. With the top four wide receivers on the roster all set to leave, that’s simply more than can be replaced in one offseason. Golladay is the youngest and most valuable of the group and the only one with any sort of long-term potential in Detroit based on age and career status.
Some of it is to buy time and more options. While the tag-to-trade concept has produced mixed results for teams recently, the market value for Golladay would seem to dictate at least a second-round pick in return via any trade after the tag.
Some of it is the belief that the organization wants to at least give the appearance of giving Jared Goff a realistic chance to prove he can be the long-term solution at quarterback. Golladay isn’t necessarily the best stylistic fit for where Goff has thrived in the NFL, but he’s a viable top target and remains one of the league’s best red-zone threats.
