Golden Tate, Lions Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

In an effort to get under the NFL's salary cap, the Detroit Lions restructured wide receiver Golden Tate's contract for the 2015 season Thursday.  

According to ESPN's Field Yates, the Lions converted $3.005 million of the former Notre Dame standout's $3.75 million base salary in 2015 into a signing bonus, which created $2.25 million in cap space.

Per Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac, that was almost the exact amount Detroit needed to save in order to comply with the league's cap:

The Lions signed Tate to a five-year, $31 million deal last offseason, and he certainly hasn't disappointed thus far.

The 27-year-old wideout set career marks with 99 receptions for 1,331 yards in 2015, and he was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time as well.

Tate has come into his own since parting ways with the Seattle Seahawks, and he is an ideal complementary weapon across from Calvin Johnson due to his ability to make things happen on short and intermediate routes.

The sixth-year veteran has more than earned his keep with the Lions to this point, and his willingness to be flexible with his contract speaks to how good his relationship is with the organization.

If Detroit is going to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season, then there is little doubt that it will need another big year out of No. 15.

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