Golden Tate: 'I Don't Know What to Expect' from Lions' Contract Talks

Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate said on Thursday that he is unsure if he will strike a deal on a new contract this offseason.

With regard to his negotiations, Tate told Kyle Meinke of MLive.com:

"I don't know what to expect. There's a lot of offseason left. I'm just trying to work and not worry about it. I just try to take it day by day, and not worry about the things I can't control. But one thing I can control is the effort I bring out there, the leadership I bring to this organization, and the product I put on film. So that's kind of all I'm worried about right now."

Tate is set to enter the final year of a five-year, $31 million contract he signed with the Lions in 2014.

Tate will earn $7 million this season, which is tied for the 17th-highest salary among NFL wideouts with teammate Marvin Jones, according to Spotrac.

The 29-year-old wideout has registered at least 90 receptions in each of the past four seasons with the Lions. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is the only other player to accomplish that feat.

Tate has also topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons and three of the past four.

The 2014 Pro Bowler reeled in 92 catches for 1,003 yards and five touchdowns last season, and he continues to be quarterback Matthew Stafford's favorite receiver.

Stafford and the Lions came to terms on a big contract extension last offseason, and he would benefit greatly from Detroit re-signing one of the NFL's premier yards-after-catch receivers in Tate.

Detroit has some talent at wide receiver besides Tate, with Jones and 2017 third-round pick Kenny Golladay as the biggest examples, but with the Lions struggling to run the ball in recent seasons, keeping Tate figures to be a huge key to the team's offensive success moving forward.