Lions WR Kenny Golladay wants to stay in Detroit, ‘hopeful’ for contract extension

Coming off a breakout year in which he led the entire NFL in touchdown receptions, Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay is looking to build on top of that performance. Just last week, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said he wants to see Golladay’s game among the top-tier receivers in the league, like DeAndre Hopkins and Michael Thomas. Golladay shares that goal for 2020.

“I definitely agree,” Golladay said of sharing Bevell’s goal. “Of course I don’t want to stay at the same level. Each year I want to just keep going up and up and I just want to build off last year.”

But before Golladay even takes the field for the regular season to hopefully play like some of the best, there’s a pretty good chance he’s going to get paid like some of the best. Golladay is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and he’s earned a pretty hefty raise based on his play through three seasons.

The Lions have been tight-lipped about where contract negotiations are—an annual tradition under general manager Bob Quinn—and while Golladay didn’t have any updates, he remains optimistic something will get done.

“I want to be here,” Golladay said. “Really, I’m just going to let my agent, and (the) front office take care of that. I’m pretty sure something will get done.”

Golladay later walked that back saying he’s more “hopeful” that something will get done, and he “hasn’t heard anything so far” in regards to current talks.

If the two sides come to an agreement this offseason, Golladay is expected to earn a contract placing him among the top 10 wide receivers in the league. To give you a sense of what that may look like, Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper signed a five-year, $100 million deal back in March. That may be a bit higher than what Golladay gets, but $17-19 million a year is certainly not out of the question.