Who Should Bucs Look Out For In Chris Godwin Sweepstakes?
February 19th, 2022
Chris Godwin
Now this is an interesting angle when it comes to possibly re-signing wide receiver Chris Godwin.
What teams should the Bucs look out for? Teams that may poach Godwin from them? Joe has a couple of ideas but Adam H. Beasley of Pro Football Network had interesting teams as well.
Again, Godwin’s fate will largely depend on his medicals. But assuming team doctors are confident in recovery, there won’t be a lack of teams interested in his services.
The Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Pittsburgh Steelers all make a ton of sense. They all have big-time holes at receiver, and not surprisingly, all finished outside of the top 20 in yards per pass and passer rating in 2021.
Joe will take these one by one:
Browns: This could be a real landing spot. The Browns are good but need a solid receiver to have a potent offense. Of course, who knows how much longer Baker Mayfield will be there? He’s so up and down you wonder if and when the Browns will run out of patience?
Bears: Joe doesn’t think this is a Godwin destination. Did Justin Fields show enough that you know he will be the starting quarterback for the next five or seven years? That seems premature.
Dolphins: Intriguing. It seems Miami is going to stick with Tua so you know they want to get weapons for him. Good offensive coach is taking over and Joe can see Mike McDaniel using Godwin a lot like he used Deebo Samuel in San Francisco (Bruce Arians did that a little). Godwin is pretty good as a runner. And of course, South Florida is a nice area.
Jags: To Joe, this is the team to look out for. Joe expects a big jump for the Jags this season. Trevor Lawrence will do OK now that he has an adult coaching him. And Joe is convinced Urban Meyer has no clue how to use a dropback quarterback. Remember, he couldn’t find a way to get Joe Burrow on the field at Ohio State. Priority No. 1 in Jacksonville is to develop Lawrence and what better way than having him throw to one of the best, clutch and dependable wide receivers in the game? And the Jags have cap space.
Steelers: This makes no sense to Joe. The Steelers have all sorts of wideouts. Just because Godwin went to Penn State doesn’t mean he’s panting to return to Pennsylvania. Besides, who is the quarterback in Pittsburgh?
Of course when it comes to the Bucs keeping Godwin, this is a no-brainer. However, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is kind of in a chicken-or-the-egg pinch. He needs to keep Godwin to help lure a quarterback to town. But why would Godwin stay if he doesn’t know who the quarterback will be?
February 19th, 2022 at 8:09 am
They shouldn’t have to worry about any team because they should get a deal done before free agency starts
February 19th, 2022 at 8:27 am
Most of those teams have no one who can competently throw the ball to him… AND, most are also miserable cold. I can’t imagine playing a Chicago or Cleveland home game in December after being in Tampa all this time. I’d think Washington, mebbe Buffalo (yet aNOTHER frozen hell-hole)..mebbe AZ would want him more
February 19th, 2022 at 8:29 am
The only one that makes sense is Pittsburgh because of his history at PSU and the respect that Mile Tonkin commands. OBJ failed in Cleveland. Chicago has nothing to offer. Anywhere besides Tampa would be only money. Miami is an ownership uncertainty.
If I was his agent, I’d have Chris Godwin sign a 4 year contract with significant guarantees in Tampa. He’d still have time for one more big one.
February 19th, 2022 at 8:31 am
Mile Tonkin? Good Lord can’t Apple fix autocorrect? Is that too much to ask?
February 19th, 2022 at 8:42 am
Let him go. Bucs are starting from scratch. This is a full rebuild.
February 19th, 2022 at 8:50 am
Godwin wants to stay in Tampa….can’t blame him……get the deal done, Jason.
February 19th, 2022 at 8:51 am
@Joe … ‘Licht is kind of in a chicken-or-the-egg pinch. He needs to keep Godwin to help lure a quarterback to town. But why would Godwin stay if he doesn’t know who the quarterback will be?’
You lost me there Joe. Re-signing Chris (close to $20 mil) AND signing a big-name QB ($30-$40 mil) leaves us with very little salary CAP to rebuild the REST of the TEAM. Yes we could probably slide much of that to future years, but that just puts us in exactly the same boat as the Saints (and Falcons actually).
Godwin will stay IF we pay him. Duh. But our best bet from the QB perspective is to let Trask compete with a couple of FAs (hopefully Gabbert plus 1 other). I personally think he’s got a pretty decent chance to win such a competition, but who knows. Simultaneously though, FIX THE TEAM, on BOTH sides of the ball. Strengthen the trenches; improve our RB, TE & WR position groups; beef up our Secondary. And as much as anything, fix our not-so-Special Teams.
For all any of us know, Kyle Trask MAY be that QB this team REALLY needs right now to be competitive in the NFC South AND in the playoffs. Then again, MAYBE he isn’t, but we’ll never know unless we give him a fair chance to compete.
February 19th, 2022 at 9:02 am
Y’all said Lavonte was going to the browns last year , just stop the madness Godwin isn’t going anywhere. Deshaun will be throwing him the rock stay tuned!
GoBucs!
February 19th, 2022 at 9:09 am
I really like Godwin and what he brings to the team, however I don’t think we can afford to keep him. That being the case, for half of what it would cost to resign Godwin, we could get a guy like Juju Smith Schuster and Draft Ohio St. Chris Olave. Olave has all the skills Godwin possesses and then some. Smith Schuster is a proven veteran who would provide proven depth as the WR3, while Olave gets up to speed in taking over Godwin’s role.
February 19th, 2022 at 9:22 am
Godwin’s contact number should be between $13-14M/yr. I like his game but he’s not a true no. 1 WR.
February 19th, 2022 at 9:36 am
I think Jags, Eagles or Jets make a ton of sense. They have young QBs that need weapons. Godwin is the perfect teammate for a developing QB. He’ll do whatever is asked, he’s a physical receiver with big play potential and can be an asset in the run game. Godwin has also been around the GOAT and i’m sure young QBs would love to pick his brain for insight on how to prepare like the best ever. In a passing league with so much invested in drafting/developing QBs, a guy like Godwin is a super rare gem.
February 19th, 2022 at 9:37 am
MHK,
Maybe turn off the auto correct feature.
February 19th, 2022 at 9:53 am
The Dolphins makes alot of sense.
Godwin would make a great addition to a receiver corps of Parker, Gesicki and Waddle. They already have a good Defense. Tua’s health issues are a concern, but they would be in position to challenge Bills with Godwin signing.
February 19th, 2022 at 10:02 am
I would look out for the Jaguars, who have the need for Chris, and a Ton of money!
February 19th, 2022 at 10:55 am
The Jags, Indy and Chargers all have a ton of cap space.
The Jags are the front runner IMO. Godwin will probably want to stay in Florida (taxes and weather) and Jacksonville has a young gun that needs help.
I read the other day that CG won’t be ready to play until @ mid-season. This might help CG stay in Tampa. Hopefully most teams won’t want to pay top dollar for damaged goods…
February 19th, 2022 at 11:33 am
Unless someone is crazy enough to throw number one receiver in the league money at Godwin he stays in Tampa. Going from a championship roster to a team like the jags…..
February 19th, 2022 at 1:25 pm
Long term deal. Kick the can down the road. Franchise Jensen.
February 19th, 2022 at 2:28 pm
Patriots
February 19th, 2022 at 4:50 pm
You cannot blame Godwin for testing the free agent market. Careers are short and there is no such thing as allegiance anymore. Make your paper Godwin. Hell, I would.
February 19th, 2022 at 9:43 pm
He should be looking for the shortest term, most guaranteed money he can get. with the cap set to go bonkers, the deal he signs could appear cheap in three years