NFL Suits Believe Bucs Will Try To Keep Chris Godwin
January 31st, 2025
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
This week the PFF tribe tried to push the notion that receiver is a draft priority for the Bucs this year. Joe nearly spilled his beer.
With a heinously thin insider linebacker roster (even worse if Lavonte David retires) and a rotten pass defense, Joe cannot believe someone who allegedly makes their living in football would have the stones to suggest on a public forum that receiver would be a priority for the Bucs over inside linebacker, corner or edge rusher.
Good grief!
Now Joe understands that veteran receiver and fan favorite Chris Goddwin (a Joe favorite, too) could become a free agent in less than six weeks. Joe expects the Bucs would try to keep one of the better receivers in the game.
And it seems those who are paid seven figures to run NFL teams agree with Joe.
Jeremy Fowler of BSPN has been working his contacts in NFL offices and shared consistent feedback he is receiving about Godwin.
Fowler’s latest: Multiple execs expect the Bucs to try to re-sign Godwin, who has that Buc-for-life feel similar to Mike Evans.
Joe knows the Bucs love Godwin a lot. And why wouldn’t they? It was a damn shame he got hurt this year because Godwin appeared to be having one of his best seasons.
Since Godwin will be deemed damaged goods by some teams because of his ankle injury, those teams will be scared off, which could drive the price down on Godwin if he gets to the open market. So perhaps the Bucs may get a good deal.
Of course, all it takes is for one team to drop a chunk of cash in Godwin’s lap to mess things up.
Yeah, Joe is looking right at you, Liam Coen in Jacksonville.
Ira Talks OC Candidate Nate Scheelhaase, Mike Evans Extension, Fresh Take On Bucs’ 4th-And-3 Decision Vs. Washington, Senior Bowl Names, And Much More
January 31st, 2025 at 3:56 am
Jason got this.
The defensive coordinator is the upgrade issue/
January 31st, 2025 at 4:47 am
The only question is his health and ability to still perform at his prior levels.
A CG14 @ 90% would still be valuable but not worth superstar $$ Hope it works out. Who doesn’t love Chris?
January 31st, 2025 at 5:21 am
Nice that early morning we have a bastion of positivity like stpetebucsfan contributing and helping restore my faith in mankind! Thanks stpetebucsfan for the experience you bring but we had better hope that it more than works out resigning Chris. In case you didn’t notice Chris was Mayfields most trusted receiver so what kind of message does that send if we lose him? I don’t want to think about not keeping Godwin, that’s a no brained. Sign him now.
January 31st, 2025 at 5:22 am
brainer
January 31st, 2025 at 6:03 am
Kenton
I’m with you bro I simply fear Chris’ health. Having said that Chris has earned 75 MILLION the past four years! I’m happy for him. It means he simply does not need any more money. I think Chris has too much pride and class to go out on the field less than fully able to play the game.
IE He has no need to embarrass himself so as you say, I’m going to remain positive and believe between JL and CG14 they will both do what’s best for the team. If Chris doesn’t feel he can play up to his standards he doesn’t impress me as the kind of guy who would simply try and play to “steal” another payday.
January 31st, 2025 at 6:29 am
Great receiver when he is healthy, but think he is on the down side of his career and has availability issues. Hope we can resign him, but not at the expense of not being able to rebuild the defense.
January 31st, 2025 at 6:43 am
It’s an ankle injury not like they had to re-attach his foot. Damaged goods?
I would not bet against him being ready to roll for someone this season.
If I were Jason talking turkey with CGs agent that would be my line of logic though. Some here wanted us to ship him out for the last two years (at least). Those folks may have forgotten what it was like not having any WRs that scared defenses.
Think about the result of trading Godwin though. We got Mike…After that who scares you. Sheppard? nah. Penalty waiting to happen, not on CGs level. Palmer, Jarrett, come on now. McMilllan, not yet. Ryan Miller is a keeper but he is a number three.
Trade value for Godwin I have no idea. Not a one. Two maybe? I doubt it.
Go Bucs!
January 31st, 2025 at 6:48 am
@Buc4ever,
He had a crazy good year up until the injury last year. He’s younger than Mike. He will hopefully get over the dislocated ankle and come back. Modern sports recovery is unreal. The only issue is we need to have patience in giving him time to get back to 100%. It might be exactly like what happened with his previous injury where he wasn’t back until after his second season post-injury.
I can’t say that Chris is injury-prone, these are not pulled hamstrings or whatever. It’s just freak catastrophic injuries. You can call it bad luck, that’s about it.
January 31st, 2025 at 6:50 am
Chris is primarily a slot WR where he’s going to take a lot of punishment. But, he’s tough as nails and has no quit in him.
January 31st, 2025 at 7:16 am
Good to hear. Mike and Godwin the dynamic duo. Listened to Ira’s latest podcast and the conversation about Mike. We also need to sign Mike again through 2026.
stpetebucsfan – Agree. Worried about Chris health too. If he is back healthy, we are good to go. Worried though, other teams may try for him too.
January 31st, 2025 at 7:22 am
Godwin needs to be extended. Godwin in the playoffs turns that L against the Commanders to a W.
January 31st, 2025 at 7:25 am
Been saying for months when Liam leaves he will take Godwin with him. Guarenteed. Godwin was getting fed non stop in Coens offense and seemed as happy as I’ve seen him. Jags will drop a truck load of money on him to get him cause that’s what that loser organization has to do to get good players/coaches. Hope I’m wrong but feel really confident this is coming.
January 31st, 2025 at 7:41 am
Key word there is ‘Try. Don’t think for a second that the Raiders are not going to want to team Godwin with Meyers (1027 yards) and Bowers (1194 yards) in 2025. Can just imagine what that Offense will be like with those three and a QB not named Minshew, O’Connell, or Ridder.
At the bare minimum the Raiders and other teams will drive the price up to the point where the Bucs can’t afford him or hope he drops his trousers ala Mayfield 2023. Seriously doubt his ‘better half’ will allow that to happen.
January 31st, 2025 at 7:54 am
Outsiders having opinions. Talking out their anuses.
Godwin was leading the league when he got hurt. The only way he leaves is if HE wants to leave. I don’t think he does. I think he loves playing with Evans. And Baker. I bet he wonders how good last year would have been had he not gotten hurt.
The guy is like Terminator. He comes back stronger from injuries.
Pay him.
January 31st, 2025 at 7:57 am
Salary cap dollars available and worth it
January 31st, 2025 at 8:03 am
Chris Godwin will take a discount if he is smart because if he can stay healthy for 2 years then he is due for solid money into his 30s. Unlike some of these divas that fan out. Plus, he knows Baker will feed him the ball!
January 31st, 2025 at 8:08 am
We need Godwin on this team. He is one of the toughest WR’s to play the game. It took two borderline cheap tackles to get him off the field. Some players are natural born leaders and he’s one of them. You can’t put a price on that nor should you.
January 31st, 2025 at 8:09 am
I wouldn’t resign him but I see the points from the other side and I don’t necessary disagree I just don’t think the offense needs him to be successful. I do think the defense needs a stud edge rusher to be successful and would rather the bucs spend that money there.
January 31st, 2025 at 8:44 am
Downside of his career? He was having an all pro season.
January 31st, 2025 at 9:10 am
Joe, you know good and well that pff is only one of several national outlets that are projecting a Bucs 1st rd WR. I would agree that it seems like a choice made by those who don’t actually follow the team, but why single out PFF?
Do you just need fodder to provoke the curmudgeons in your crew that are afraid of math?
January 31st, 2025 at 9:29 am
Downside? Guy was having a monster year until the Ravens game.
Injury prone/availability issues? Are you kidding?
He got injured on a dirty hit/hip drop tackle. It’s not like he’s Jamel Dean who pulls a hammy when he sneezes.
Almost a nonbrainer to resign, unless he asks for something completely unreasonable.