Ben Tate: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent RB

Free-agent running back Ben Tate played for three different teams this past season and is reportedly gearing up for a workout with another new suitor in the Detroit Lions.

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Report: Tate to Work Out for Lions

Monday, June 8

ESPN's Josina Anderson has the latest details on Tate's NFL future:

Running back Daniel Thomas will also be working out for the Lions on Tuesday, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. 

Anderson reported May 21 that Tate worked out for the Dallas Cowboys, who ultimately didn't sign him to help compensate for the departure of reigning NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray.

Stuck behind Arian Foster during the start of his career in Houston, Tate showed grit during a contract year in 2013 in playing with four broken ribs. The Cleveland Browns were expected to make Tate their feature back. But he averaged just 3.1 yards per carry in eight games, and they waived him.

The Minnesota Vikings picked Tate up last year but released him after just three contests. Then Tate returned to the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers just before the postseason.

Despite bouncing around so much after what looked to be a No. 1 role for the first time in his career, Tate made it known that he isn't giving up:

The Lions are an interesting potential suitor for Tate. They lost versatile playmaker Reggie Bush in free agency this offseason, and Joique Bell has two years remaining on his contract, per Spotrac.com.

Rotoworld's analysis references some of the injuries Bell has dealt with that could be factor in Detroit's interest in Tate:

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It's Tate's second workout in the past couple weeks after he tried out for the running back-needy Cowboys late last month. Tate has garnered little interest since flopping badly with the Browns and Vikings last season. He's still just 28 (in August) and was viewed as the top free-agent runner last offseason. In Detroit, this could be a sign that Joique Bell (Achilles', knee) isn't yet 100 percent.

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Competition would also come in the form of third-year ball-carrier Theo Riddick and rookie second-round draft pick Ameer Abdullah. Both backs are capable of catching the ball, which hasn't been Tate's forte.

No matter what the result of Tate's tryout is, it makes sense for the Lions to do their due diligence in the name of improving a rushing attack that ranked 28th in the NFL this last season.