“Priority” To Retain Chris Godwin
February 8th, 2022
Keeping Chris Godwin.
The free agency dinner bell rings on March 16. And Joe suspects that for any quarterback the Bucs want to bring in, the first question from his agent to Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht will be very predictable.
“Are you going to re-sign Chris Godwin?”
Any quarterback helping facilitate a trade will want to know what kind of weapons does his potential new team has.
With one of the best wide receivers in the game a free agent, Joe is confident what the Bucs do with Godwin will influence prospective quarterbacks.
On her Instagram stories account yesterday, Jenna Laine of ESPN fielded questions from her followers. One asked Laine if the Bucs will re-sign Godwin.
“Yes. He’s arguably the top priority, along with getting a quarterback,” Laine replied.
Laine amended her original response with, “I don’t even know why I said ‘arguably.’ He’s the priority along with a quarterback.”
This sort of fits the lines of what Joe would do if he were Licht. Sign Godwin and then franchise Ryan Jensen.
The Bucs may get Godwin at a slight discount because of his injury. Apply O.J. Howard’s salary toward Godwin’s price and the Bucs shouldn’t have any issue keeping Godwin.
No, Joe doesn’t expect the Bucs to retain Howard’s services.
February 8th, 2022 at 8:20 am
We’ll need him with Trask starting. Now we have to find a replacement/blocker when Gronk leaves,
February 8th, 2022 at 8:31 am
If we keep Godwin, Fournette and Jensen, there’s really no excuse for whoever is our signal caller.
February 8th, 2022 at 8:50 am
@ Joe…I wouldn´t expect Bucs retain OJ either, I get that, but with the lack of TE we will have on next season, wouldn´t you bring OK at a low price?
I understand OJ didn´t satisfied expectations, buy I refuse to think there is nothing there when you barely throw the ball at him…..
Get my point?
February 8th, 2022 at 9:04 am
Why use OJ Howard and an example to replace salary…we have a number of other players that could be substituted for that.
Gronk
JPP
Suh
Lenny (although i’d try to keep Lenny)
Why franchise Jensen…..the tag is $16.5 million….are you kidding me?…..surely we can sign him for a couple of years at $12 each or so.
With franchise tags, you can play around with voided years…..etc.
February 8th, 2022 at 9:09 am
Godwin, Lenny, Jensen, Davis. Is that too much? Other than Jensen, who’s not terribly old for OL at 30, are coming out of rookie contract which is the prime area. If it is too much for one or two, Cappa, whitehead, Gholston, Suh, Stinnie. I can also live without Davis and a large contract.
February 8th, 2022 at 9:22 am
So no Gronk, no Howard… isn’t Brate a UFA too? Who plays TE?
February 8th, 2022 at 9:30 am
Tag Jenson? Yeah I don’t think thats happening if they tag someone it’s probably Davis and then they sign Godwin to a long term deal I hear his going rate would be around 17 mil a year would be good for the bucs at that rate.
February 8th, 2022 at 9:52 am
@ view
No. Cam Brate is under contract for two more seasons. We will pay him $6.55 million next season and over $7 million in 2023.
February 8th, 2022 at 9:57 am
No way in heck do we franchise tag Jenson at $16.5 million.
I hope he signs a three year deal worth @ $35 million with $16 million guaranteed.
Make the first year cheap and push as much as possible into years 2 and 3…
February 8th, 2022 at 10:11 am
I agree 100%. His market will be suppressed now, so he will not be a huge contract price.
Give him a contract will millions in riders, let him earn it.
February 8th, 2022 at 10:22 am
Fire Jenna,
February 8th, 2022 at 10:43 am
How many more years you want to pay the guy to prove he was worthy of his pick? It’s not like he was Gronkowski’s backup. Howard was the No. 3 tight end — in a contract year.
At some point you have to admit your mistakes and move on.
What the Bucs do at tight end will largely be determined by Gronk.
Brady and Arians don’t seem like the type of guys who would not feed a guy if he was open, especially when the Bucs were riddled with injuries in the passing game.
February 8th, 2022 at 10:45 am
Why not? He’s the perfect example. His salary wasn’t expensive like Gronk’s. He was a JAG. And Howard very likely won’t be back.
Not sure why you are bent about this. It’s not like Joe suggested the Bucs get rid of Ryan Jensen to keep Godwin.
February 8th, 2022 at 10:48 am
Godwin, CDIII, Whitehead, Jensen, Lenny, Big Will In the that order
February 8th, 2022 at 10:48 am
Draft a tight end.
February 8th, 2022 at 11:01 am
zzbucs Says:
February 8th, 2022 at 8:50 am
Probably because they could do better for less money… and OJ probably wants to move on.
February 8th, 2022 at 11:31 am
I’d give OJ an offer. It’d be for the minimum but I’d give him one. He’s been a good soldier and hasn’t made a fuss.
February 8th, 2022 at 12:36 pm
If and when Gronk retires this summer, offer OJ a one year prove it deal (he may look to move on), but Gronks 10 million will help sign someone else (possibly Godwin). question becoes traing for a QB or going with one of the FA’s which I see none of them being in position to break the bank. However, I do believe the Bucs have to eat TB12 salary.
February 8th, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Yeah Godwin should be the priority IMO. I was big on Tyler Johnson earlier thinking he might be able to ease the pain of Godwin leaving in FA, but after seeing Ty regress this past season I now think the Bucs need to secure Godwin’s services for another 3 or more guaranteed years. Hopefully Johnson comes back better next year. As for TE, I’m ok with letting OJ test the FA market. Honestly he hasn’t lived up to his potential, and there are a few decent FA TE’s that the Bucs could add if the price is right. It typically isn’t a position that a rookie comes in and dominates, so I think a vet FA signing might be better for the right now.
February 8th, 2022 at 4:41 pm
Agree, get rid of OJ and save Godwin. Do not bring Rogers in, bad attitude and would be a huge distraction since he feels the game is all about him. Hd couldn’t carry Brady’s jock strap!
February 8th, 2022 at 6:22 pm
I’ve been reading this is supposed to be a good class for tight end. Plus there’s always affordable options in free agency.
February 8th, 2022 at 9:40 pm
I think most here agree with you on this one Joe.
Godwin is clearly the top priority. But I list Whitehead ahead of Davis who is a good but not great CB. Yeah I know CB’s are hard to find but both SMB and Dean when he’s healthy play as well. And all three gamble and get burned a lot.
Meanwhile Whitehead is a John Lynch style momentum changer. His hits routinely make the highlight reels. And how often does he get flagged for cheap shots.
Whitehead is the best natural hitter I’ve seen since Lynch and Winfield is no slouch either. Keep Whitehead!!!
February 8th, 2022 at 10:33 pm
SPBF –
SMB isn’t even in the same stratosphere as Davis.
C’mon Man……
Davis is like the 10th best CB in the league. SMB is about 84th…..
Gotta sign Davis to a fair contract – which is in the range of $11-$13M per year.
Godwin and Davis are the 2 highest FA priorities for the Bucs this spring.