Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay may be a week away from facing free agency. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Lions do not plan on using the franchise tag on the former Pro Bowler, meaning if Detroit cannot come to an agreement with Golladay, he will be an unrestricted free agent on March 17, the start of the new league year.
Reports suggest Golladay turned down a deal worth “around $18, $19 million per year” last season, but it was never clear how far talks progressed with the new Lions’ regime. If they want to sign Golladay long-term, they still have a week before other teams can start negotiating with him, but there hasn’t been any indications that talks have been ongoing, and current Lions general manager Brad Holmes has been tight-lipped about the situation.
“Kenny has been at the forefront of our minds in terms of making sure that we make the best possible decision for not only the Lions, but for Kenny,” Holmes said last week. “I wish I had a more direct answer to you to tell you exactly what we’re going to do, but out of respect for the process, I’ll keep that in-house.”
A former third-round draft pick of the Lions, Golladay racked up 3,068 yards and 21 touchdowns in four seasons in Detroit. He made his first and only Pro Bowl in 2019 after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and leading the NFL in receiving touchdowns (11) that year.
If the Lions do, indeed, move on from Golladay, they’ll have a lot of work to do at the wide receiver position. Marvin Jones Jr. and Danny Amendola are also facing free agency next week, and there isn’t any expectation for either to return. The Lions did make the signing of free agent wide receiver Tyrell Williams official on Tuesday.
