Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Golden Tate started off his NFL career buried deep beneath the catacombs of the Seattle Seahawks‘ depth chart, rarely seeing the field after the new regime used its second-rounder on the Notre Dame receiver back in 2010. Golden Tate officially cemented himself a role on the team throughout last year and especially down the stretch, hauling in passes all over the field and providing the Russell Wilson an outlet that can frequently turn short passes into long gains.
Tate would finish top 15 in yards after catch in 2012, edging the likes of Demaryius Thomas and Randall Cobb at 6.1 yards after reception per catch, playing a major role in him leading Seattle in major receiving categories over the final nine games. Then suddenly, the front office threw three draft picks and $67 million at the league-leader in YAC per reception in Percy Harvin, a player who fills much the same role as Tate.
So what should Tate make of this?
“When I first heard, I hadn’t spoken to any of the coaching staff or the (general manager) or the owner or anybody, so I didn’t really know what to think at that time,’’ Tate said, via The Seattle Times. “But shortly after, speaking to Pete and John, they explained it to me that it shouldn’t affect me much.’” Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll also weighed in: “I’m excited about it,’’ Tate said. “I like the way the offense is playing out to use him. … I’m excited to see how creative our offensive coordinators and receivers and coaches can get.’’
I think that while Harvin will carve into the number of looks Tate would have gotten in 2013, the increased trust Seattle shows in Wilson will mean more looks for everyone and enough space for both to contribute in this offense. Add in Harvin’s injury history, and the Harvin-Tate situation is a nice issue to have.
Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
