It’s widely believed that receiver Marvin Jones instantly becomes the No. 1 receiver in Detroit. Golden Tate may have something to say about that.
Tate’s contract says plenty, relative to the deal Jones signed earlier this week.
Jones received an $8 million signing bonus on a five-year, $40 million deal. Another $5 million in 2016 compensation is fully guaranteed, along with $4 million of his 2017 base salary of $7 million.
Jones is due to make $7 million in 2018, $6.5 million in 2019, and $6.5 million in 2020.
Two years ago (when the cap was more than $20 million lower), Tate signed a five-year, $31 million deal with the same signing bonus of $8 million. In 2017 and 2018, Tate will make a total of $13 million; Jones will earn $14 million.
That said, Jones will make $27 million over the first three years, which puts him among the top-1o receivers in three-year payout.
Last month, Tate said he’s “absolutely” ready to take on a bigger role in the offense, in the event Calvin Johnson retires. Johnson is indeed gone and Jones has arrived, but the compensation package received by Jones doesn’t scream out that he’s definitely the No. 1 receiver.