Chris Godwin Franchised
March 9th, 2021
“I’m rich, baby!”
UPDATED: 11:43 – So now the ball is rolling at One Buc Palace and the heat is on.
Per uber NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Bucs have franchise-tagged Chris Godwin. So we know that he will be back next year.
Tagging Chris Godwin mean Shaq Barrett and Lavonte David are scheduled to be free agents, though Tampa has discussed deals with both players. https://t.co/Q3ZIOVZQtn
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2021
Godwin, assuming he signs tag, would earn about $16.5 million guaranteed for 2021, roughly a $14 million raise.
Now the heat is on Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett will likely go to the highest bidder and he won’t be cheap and may cost more than franchising him. That’s a helluva dice to roll with oily Drew Rosenhaus as Shaq’s agent — on the most important part of the Super Bowl-winning defense.
Joe thinks it is fair to suggest without Shaq, the Bucs wouldn’t have even made the Super Bowl.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:41 am
As predicted long ago by many of us. Makes the most sense hands down. Try to work a deal with Shaq, if he chases the money like I suspect he will we’ll have many other options to try to fill that role.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:43 am
I don’t disagree with this move. How much is the tag?
Later Shaq. go get paid. They BETTER bring AB back though!
March 9th, 2021 at 11:43 am
Not thrilled if we lose a couple players on D b/c of this but can’t complain about keeping a stud
March 9th, 2021 at 11:43 am
Yes Joe, A Rodgers picked apart the Rams because they had no pass rush. Without Shaq, the Bucs would have been watching Green Bay play KC in their own stadium. GO BUCS!!!
March 9th, 2021 at 11:44 am
I agree the Bucs don’t make it to the Super Bowl without Shaq. I think this is a mistake franchising Godwin but Jason Licht finally created a Super Bowl winning roster. He gets the benefit of the doubt.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:44 am
I know you love shaq. I think we all do but I think it’s the defensive line as a team. Without JPP last year shaq disappeared and without vea this year we definitely weren’t the same. I think if we sign an above average outside linebacker well be equal.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:45 am
Tag Godwin Extend Shaq
GREAT GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 9th, 2021 at 11:45 am
nice…tom trusts in godwin…
#InBradyWeTrust
looks like shaq is gonna be rowing a boat somewhere else
March 9th, 2021 at 11:45 am
Offseason’s used to fill me with hope. Every year I’d tell myself this is the year we get better.
Now the offseason gives me diarrhea. But hey I like being the Champs even if its scary thinking about all these teams trying to poach our LOADED roster.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:46 am
It might mean that Licht is close to a long-term deal with Shaq.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:47 am
Leonard Floyd, Matt judon, Carlos Dunlap, and who knows how many others who will get cut or who we could work a trade for, you’re telling me none of those guys in this defense can grab 8 to 10 sacks playing in Shaq’s spot? Two years ago no one knew who this guy was. I’m not hoping he leaves, but let’s not pretend we would be losing Myles Garrett or one of the bosa brothers.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:48 am
Well with the tag that takes most of the 20 million in cap space. The tag will be about 15 million. So thats maybe 5 million left in cap. Only way I see creating cap is extending contract but that can come back to bite you down the road if it is back loaded. My guess is they are banking on hitting in the draft again IMO. I think that will be the smart thing to do is draft all defense in the first 4 picks which will give you depth and future starters at DL and LB.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:49 am
Yes yes yes. Good offense makes good defense.
Godwin way more important than shaq period.
Now let’s sign David. Any money left suh. Gronk. Leftover to shaq if he wants it.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:49 am
This puts pressure on Brown now. The Bucs will not be paying Large Dollars to him.
Will any team?
March 9th, 2021 at 11:49 am
Boom
End of discussion
March 9th, 2021 at 11:50 am
Lots of ways to win in the NFL. I preferred the Shaq priority method but there are other ways we can be good. Keeping Godwin is a method that can work out as well.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:51 am
Still beneficial to sign him to a 4 year deal and save money this year.
Just letting their thoughts be known.
Your ass ain’t going nowhere.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:52 am
Brady didn’t restructure for nothing in return. Let the games begin. Still say offense will be stronger, sign James White before he commits to Pat’s. Short money for a key piece to the offense.
March 9th, 2021 at 11:53 am
I like Matt Judon now
March 9th, 2021 at 11:57 am
Yup!
Great move…and he can buy his yacht now 😉
March 9th, 2021 at 11:58 am
I like judon too but he will also be expensive. Not as slippery as Shaq but stronger at the point of attack.
March 9th, 2021 at 12:03 pm
Dumb move. Should have let Godwin walk and put that money into the defense, especially with all the talent our WR room has and if AB returns.
March 9th, 2021 at 12:04 pm
@joe as much as I like Shaq Barrett I remember you critizing him tremendously for not having a sack at all ever since the Vikings game last year. While he did get hot against the Packers and chiefs. I believe that vita vea and both offensive tackle starters had alot to do with him having great game against sub par offensive tackles. I hope he stays with the bucs but I think Barrett is definitely chasing the money in free agency. And who can blame him for it.
March 9th, 2021 at 12:08 pm
It just seems like, because he’s so young, they could have signed him to a 6 year long-term deal and pushed out some of the cash to save a little this year where it’s needed.
I have to trust Licht and his team.
Takeaways-
-They absolutely must sign Shaq to a four-year deal.
-Can we stop with the idiotic talk about OBJ coming here now?!
-They’re about to save 8-10 million with Brady’s extension.
-Hopefully they extend/restructure D Smith to save more.
-I have a bad feeling this means LVD is moving on.
-The good news is, there are a lot of LBs & DEs in this draft for the first 2 rounds
March 9th, 2021 at 12:09 pm
Jason likes to hang onto his good draft picks……Godwin is a Buc….maybe they can turn this tag into a longer term deal…..they can now also trade him, I believe…..so things aren’t totally over.
I would have preferred to keep the defense in tact….now this makes LVD & Suh a priority….don’t think they’ll have the money for Godwin & Shaq.
March 9th, 2021 at 12:10 pm
Fair, but that doesn’t mean Joe wanted to get rid of him, especially after he blew up in the playoffs. And then when Joe learned he was top five in pass rush pressures (even without Vea) that made him all the more valuable.
Just do not comprehend why anyone wants to get rid of the guy. At best, this is fixing something that is not broken.
March 9th, 2021 at 12:15 pm
Proper move. David next
March 9th, 2021 at 12:16 pm
Shaq performed great in 2 of the biggest wins in team history. How many stars disappear in the biggest games. Shaq proved his worth. You simply cannot discount this, in the biggest games in 17 years for the Bucs, he stepped up. GO BUCS!!!!
March 9th, 2021 at 12:16 pm
Wow!
March 9th, 2021 at 12:18 pm
LD54 gets the next deal….no disrespect to anyone…draft Collins, no fall off
D. White, David, JPP, Collins….come on man!
March 9th, 2021 at 12:22 pm
Well looks like Shaq is gone. As much as I wanted to keep the defense together this screams that Shaq wanted way too much money. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go to a team that has a lot more money to spend.
March 9th, 2021 at 12:31 pm
Makes sense! Godwin’s tag is the lesser cost of the two. Now sign Shaq to a 4-5 year contract with a big signing bonus that they can prorate over the life of the contract, so he carries a much lower Cap number this year!
My guess is Shaq gets 5 years, $90million…$40million signing bonus, and salaries of $2mil, $6mil, $10mil, $12mil, $20mil. So his Cap # this year is only $10mil.
March 9th, 2021 at 12:32 pm
Now trade Durable Donnie, move Wirfs to LT and draft a RT.
Free up 14 million to sign an edge.
March 9th, 2021 at 12:32 pm
I don’t agree but you give Licht the room because of what he constructed last year.
March 9th, 2021 at 12:39 pm
Love Godwin, but I don’t like the tag being used on him. I’m pretty sure that means Barrett is gone and that’s not good.
March 9th, 2021 at 12:53 pm
I LOVED SHAQ AND THIS DEFENSE LEAD TO THE SUPER BOWL WIN!!!
But let’s all be honest or you need to get the net. Vea exploded when he got back in GB. KC had three back up oline. This defense has ALL AROUND been getting better and better and surely doesn’t revolve around Shaqs 8 sack season. Let LVD walk and this defense begins to implode week one 2021.
March 9th, 2021 at 1:06 pm
Hate to say I told you so but….Common sense should have told you Godwin was staying.
March 9th, 2021 at 1:10 pm
Look, it’s a good move, solid. Now it’s time to address the defense. Do we have enough cap space to sign LVD AND Shaq? Either/or? Who’s the odd man out of the remaining FAs?
Again, I would not want to be a Buc decision-maker here. A big name MAY be going to another team.
March 9th, 2021 at 1:12 pm
Congrats to Godwin, Bye Bye to Shaq and maybe Lavonte also. Draft a edge rusher and linebacker with your first two picks. Then sign Gronk, Suh, Succop, Gabbert and whatever else we need!
March 9th, 2021 at 1:50 pm
Sorry but tagging CG was a bad move. Tagging Shaq would’ve been a bad move also. All we did was exchange a quality defensive player (who made $15.8 mil last year) for a quality offensive player (who’ll now cost us $16.5 mil). We just tilted the team salary CAP ‘BALANCE’ back heavily towards the offense once again. Just like it was before BA arrived in 2019.
Barring some significant cuts in salaries on the offensive side to compensate & restore some semblance of salary CAP ‘BALANCE’ between our offense & defense, we just screwed the pooch.
March 9th, 2021 at 1:51 pm
I’m glad that we are keeping Godwin, but we gotta sign Shaq man. Lol, I’m happy and worried all at the same time. Free agency sucks when you have a good team.
March 9th, 2021 at 1:55 pm
“This “franchise Tag” is totally illegal and should be banned by the union
Forced to get paid for only 1 year, while you outplayed your rookie contract and other teams will be fighting to give you 5 times the total amount you are guaranteed for 1 year
What happens if Godwin tears his knee which can happen any game?
he will get minimum or if career ending nothing”
Kobe for the people Faker
March 9th, 2021 at 2:04 pm
This doesn’t mean Barrett is gone, it could mean the complete opposite. Could mean both sides are close enough to a deal that they decided to tag the cheaper player.
Either way, if Barrett leaves, the line of players wanting to come and fill his spot won’t be short. Don’t get me wrong, I want Barrett to stay, but there are always other options out there, especially for a team led by Tom Brady coming off of a Super Bowl win.
March 9th, 2021 at 2:08 pm
The Bucs must like the free agent pass rushers available.
Bud Dupree with a bum knee?
Von Miller past his prime?
Carlos D?
Nugwakwe? Possible head case?
This will be interesting to see what happens next. They just spent 80% of their entire current cap space on one guy…
The Brady restructure must have gone very well.
March 9th, 2021 at 2:11 pm
@ Defense
I agree. What does this say about Tom Brady’s opinion of Chris Godwin?
This tag doesn’t get used unless TB12 ordered it…
March 9th, 2021 at 2:15 pm
Many of us predicted this. It is the smartest business move. You don’t franchise Shaq and take a huge financial penalty doing so.
March 9th, 2021 at 2:28 pm
I think this is a mistake franchising Godwin instead of Shaq.
We are much deeper at receiver then we are at pass rushers.
I sure hope we don’t lose Shaq.
March 9th, 2021 at 2:45 pm
Awful lot of drops last season to end up getting a $14M pay raise. Don’t hate it but I certainly don’t love it with all these other Free Agents at tougher-to-fill positions.
March 9th, 2021 at 5:29 pm
Vita Vea makes a lot of people as good as Shaq…..
March 9th, 2021 at 7:06 pm
It would be great to have Shaq back, but he can be replaced. He’s worth a big contract but not worth breaking the bank. Let him walk. Seriously
March 9th, 2021 at 9:30 pm
Let Shaw go get paid by the Jets!
March 9th, 2021 at 9:50 pm
We keep Godwin!
Resign David! You hou!
Now let’s get Shaq! I have a good feeling. Gronk will be back probably, and AB. I hope Suh too.
NEXT: Succup!
We will be back!
Let’s go BUCS!
March 10th, 2021 at 10:44 am
The subtext is that if shows what he has shown the past two years, Godwin’s long term deal will come at the expense of the much older Mike Evans next offseason. Godwin needs a big playoff run though – he was nowhere near as effective in the playoffs.
March 11th, 2021 at 5:29 pm
Shaq led the league in total pressures (77) according to PFF. While sacks are what matter most, they don’t tell the whole story if it forces qb to throw quicker before wants to causing incompletion or int.. or cause the qb to scramble and get sacked by someone else.
Personally I love godwin but it’s a question of scarcity and drop off to the replacement. Fact is we can plug in AB, Scotty miller and Tyler johnson as the #2-4 receivers fine and add a cheaper free agent at a good value with all the cap casualties due to unprecedented drop in total team cap.
Who is going to replace shaq? Have seen Brady take a team with reche Caldwell as the best receiver to the brink of a championship in 2006 and that was to Peyton Manning after being up 21-3 at halftime and they lost 38-34… (Either team smokes bears in sb). That was his defenses fault! Win alot of games with 34… Especially in 2006 when scoring was lower.
Both are great players and coulda kept them both if not for the shrunk cap. It’s a friggin tough decision. Shaq long term deal would prob be bad ladder half but from pure win now perspective he probably was the smarter move but what do I know… We aren’t privvy to all the details Licht has so just gotta trust be made right decision