Seahawks should sign Golden Tate before week one

The Seahawks have only four receivers on the initial 53-man roster for 2021. While Seattle may be waiting for Josh Gordon, the team should sign Golden Tate. Tate is not going to lead Seattle in yards caught or pass receptions unless something were to go seriously wrong elsewhere somehow. But Tate would add a veteran presence needed as a third option at receiver.

The Seahawks took D’Wayne Eskridge in the second round in this year’s NFL draft. Eskridge should be an excellent fit in offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s system but rookie receivers notoriously have a more difficult time in the first years. Eskridge might be very good one day but for Seattle to be at its best in 2021 Tate might help quite a bit.

Tate wasn’t an issue when he played with the Seahawks earlier in his career either. He wanted to go somewhere where he would catch more passes and he did. Seattle’s offense was different in 2013 which was Tate’s last year with the team. The Seahawks ran the ball a lot more then.

Seahawks should sign receiver Golden Tate

But while Tate will be 33 years old this season, he still knows how to get open. Tate averages 11.9 yards a reception in his career and in 2020 he averaged 11.1 so not too far off his career mark. Tate may have lost some speed but he’s helped overcome that for the most part as he is a smart player and finds the open spaces.

Plus, Tate would appear to be a fantastic slot receiver option for Russell Wilson in Waldron’s offense. D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett would take up most of the attention on the outside allowing Tate to work underneath. Waldron’s scheme allows for more check-downs and slants where Tate should be.

Tate also catches most everything thrown his way. He’s caught 66.8 percent of his targets in his career. Metcalf’s rate is 61.8 percent in comparison. Seattle’s initial 53-man roster has just four receivers listed. There’s room for another. Golden Tate would be a very good option to make it five.