Tuesday open thread: Should the Detroit Lions franchise tag Kenny Golladay?

For today’s Question of the Day, we’re cheating a little bit. This question has been asked and answered several times on this site already. However, it’s crunch time and new information has been made available that could change one’s mind on the topic.

Unless the NFL announces an extension of the deadline, teams must decide by 4 p.m. ET today (Tuesday) if they plan on using the franchise tag for the 2021 season. That means Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell, and whoever else is in on these decisions must make a pivotal choice on the future of Kenny Golladay in the upcoming hours.

Granted, this team has more options than just use the franchise tag on him or not. If they’re confident they can get a long-term deal done, there’s no need to use the tag especially when it could sour relationships during a negotiation. Of course, if the Lions have already decided it’s time to move on from Golladay, then the franchise tag is a non-option.

The x-factor in all of this is the news that last year, Golladay reportedly turned down “around $18, $19 million a year, depending on who you want to believe,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

If that’s the mark Golladay is still seeking in negotiations, maybe the hopes of reaching a long-term agreement are bleaker than it appears. And even a tag-and-trade may be tougher if teams are unwilling to take a one-year rental on Golladay.

So I’ll ask again, on the day of the deadline:

Should the Detroit Lions franchise tag Kenny Golladay?

My answer: No, they should not. While a tag-and-trade is undoubtedly the ideal scenario for the Lions—picking up immediate draft resources instead of potentially getting a 2022 compensatory pick in return via free agency—I’m just not sure how realistic that is. How many teams are willing to take on a $16+ million one-year deal and give up additional draft resources, knowing that Golladay, a player who has dealt with some serious injuries already in his career, may be asking for $20+ million after the tag is up.

As for the Lions intentions on keeping him, I’m all for a long-term re-signing, as long as it’s a reasonable deal with a manageable cap hit in 2021. However, if Golladay’s demands remain what they were last year, I’m not so sure that’s going to be feasible.

I respect Golladay for going out and trying to get the bag here, but Detroit simply isn’t in a position right now where they should be spending over $20 million a year on a 27-year-old receiver, and a one-year, $16 million franchise tag deal makes even less sense. Those are moves made by a team that’s ready to compete immediately, and I think we can all agree the Lions aren’t that team right now.

So until we hear that Golladay’s demands have changed since 2020, it may be time to start preparing our goodbyes.

Your turn.