Golden Tate became the last causal of the salary cap ahead of the NFL league’s new year. The New York Giants have released the veteran wide receiver, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Tate, 32, was in the middle of a four-year, $ 37.5 million contract with the Giants.
Tate’s contract reportedly ended up with a cap of just under $ 11 million. Prior to Tate’s exit announcement, the Giants’ planned ceiling space for 2021 was less than $ 500,000, according to Over The Cap. This year’s salary cap, which would have been north of $ 200 million, is expected to be around $ 185 million. The lower salary cap is the result of financial losses due to COVID-19.
60th pick in the 2010 Draft, Tate spent his first four seasons in the NFL in Seattle, where he helped the Seahawks win the franchise’s first Super Bowl in 2013. He spent the next four and a half seasons with the Lions , where he won his first and only Pro Bowl selection in 2014. After three 1,000-yard seasons with the Lions, Tate was traded from Detroit to Philadelphia in the middle of the 2018 season.
After a disappointing stint with the Eagles, Tate signed a long-term deal with the Giants during the 2019 offseason. In two seasons in New York, Tate caught 84 passes for 1,064 yards and eight touchdowns. Tate endured a tough 2020 season that saw him catch just 35 passes for 388 yards and two touchdowns, his lowest total since his second season in the NFL.
Tate’s 2020 season included a healthy scratch after publicly demanding the ball in New York’s Week 8 loss to the Buccaneers. Tate later apologized for his actions.
Receiver was part of the Giants’ off-season needs ahead of Wednesday’s announcement of Tate’s release. In their latest mock drafts, CBS Sports Draft analysts Chris Trapasso and Josh Edwards have the Giants using Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney’s No. 11 pick and Alabama DeVonta Smith, respectively. Conversely, Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports draft analyst, asks the Giants to use Penn State linebacker pick Micah Parsons.
The Giants have their three best receivers from last season under contract. Darius Slayton led the Giants with 751 receiving yards. Despite missing four games, Sterling Shepard caught 66 assists, a team high. Tight end Evan Engram took home Pro Bowl honors after catching 63 passes for 654 yards.
