What About Chris Godwin?
January 28th, 2025
Chances of a return?
On face value, it seems like an easy decision to make on Chris Godwin.
The Bucs, especially the suits, love Godwin. Who doesn’t? But the free agent receiver is likely looking at his final big bite at the NFL apple with his next contract.
So Joe guesses Godwin, who turns 29 in a month and could become a free agent in March, is going to want to get paid by someone.
Dan Graziano of BSPN seems to think Godwin returning to Tampa is no slam dunk.
Latest on whether they will re-sign wide receiver Chris Godwin: He has been a mainstay for the Bucs, but Godwin will also be coming off a season-ending ankle injury, and Tampa Bay just paid out a big contract to fellow receiver Mike Evans last offseason. Add in the encouraging late-season performance by rookie Jalen McMillan and it’s possible Godwin has played his last game as a Buc.
It may boil down to who the Bucs offensive coordinator is. If the new OC is a modern, open-minded guy (like Liam Coen and current Rams assistant Nate Scheelhaase), then that guy will surely want someone as dependable as Godwin to throw to.
If the Bucs bring in some run, run, run-the-ball guy (like Dave Canales), spending big money on two receivers might be deemed too much.
When you look at all the Bucs’ defensive holes, Joe could see how coaches could make the case Godwin’s potential payday may be better spent on defense, especially if Lavonte David retires.
Joe is not certain if the Bucs fully know how much they want to pay for Godwin’s return. Coming off an injury, the Bucs may get Godwin at a bargain price. Many teams will shy away from a receiver coming off ankle surgery.
January 28th, 2025 at 1:58 am
Godwin is a Buc for life. Mikey and Baker would mutiny. This has been covered – where is he at rehab wise and when is he projected to return to full strength? All favtors that Jason has his fingers on.
Chris is a Buc. Period.
January 28th, 2025 at 2:05 am
2 years – $36M – $20M guaranteed + incentives sounds about right.
Godwin is worth more than that if there were no questions about his health – but unfortunately for Chris – that nasty injury also cost him some money – at least a few million.
Fortunately for Chris (and perhaps the Bucs), he already has almost $80M in career earnings from this franchise.
Pretty sure the Bucs have every intention of bringing Chris back and I’d hope he’d like to stay and is willing to negotiate accordingly.
January 28th, 2025 at 3:22 am
No way Bucs brass let Godwin walk. He brings too much to the table n has proven himself throughout the years. His performance, attitude, character, and presence speaks for itself. Yes we have McMillan but not so fast my friend…Godwin don’t drop passes, is consistent during crunch time, n he’s a game changer. Therefore, Bucs will restructure some contracts to ensure we keep him. He’s a mirror of Larry Fitzgerald/ Hines Ward, both HOF who both played on an elite level in their mid thirties. Godwin is a Buc for life.
January 28th, 2025 at 4:17 am
Hope the Bucs figure it out. He has given his all for the Bucs. The only thing that has been illegal hits. Maybe if players that cause season ending injuries with illegal hits were automatically suspended until the injured player returns to the lineup. Make the the opposing player and team suffer the penalty.
January 28th, 2025 at 4:22 am
^^the that has stopped him has been illegal hits. ^^^
January 28th, 2025 at 4:54 am
He’s wrapping up a 60 MILLION $$$ contract!!! IE Chris does not need any more money he is set for life!
I LOVE CG14 as a player and representative of the franchise. A great WR with minimal ego, no Tyreek Hill that’s for sure!
Having said all that it’s just a business at the end of the day! CG14 has been SERIOUSLY injured twice now and missed major portions of seasons. When he plays he has been Pro Bowl level…it’s the WHEN HE PLAYS that concerns me!
I get loyalty but it is a two way street. SIXTY MILLION IS A LOT OF LOYALTY.
Just sayin’.
IF the Bucs really put him through the paces to check his current physical abilities FIRST…then negotiate! A HEALTHY CG14 is clearly someone the Bucs could use. As to need? If they don’t sign him will the Bucs even need to look at wasting a high draft pick or money on an FA. I don’t think so. Not this year!
I’ll leave the contract details to Pickgrin who follows this far better than me.
January 28th, 2025 at 6:05 am
Love Chris GREAT PLAYER
BUT REALITY is Godwin has been hurt twice missing most of two seasons + he is older + He wants a big contract
I think the Bucs have to spend that money on Defense
January 28th, 2025 at 6:06 am
Hope we get Nate Scheelhaase as OC.
Agree with others commenting, Godwin should stay with the Bucs and just like Mike and Baker will retire a Buc. Reading Pickgrin’s earnings info, he is pretty much set.
January 28th, 2025 at 6:28 am
Lead the nfl in yac before injury. Easy decision.
January 28th, 2025 at 6:30 am
He would be a good compliment to the Jags young receiver Thomas.
January 28th, 2025 at 6:52 am
And the talking heads are always right about the Bucs?
We see how little they do their homework on daily basis.
Go Bucs!
January 28th, 2025 at 6:52 am
When have the Bucs let a player walk out that they really wanted to keep exactly there isn’t one
January 28th, 2025 at 6:56 am
My instinct is that Chris wants to remain a Buc.
Of course, the NFL is a business and anything can happen…
He and Mike are tight. It could go a long way toward encouraging Chris to stay, if Mike returns next year. Mike also took a team-friendly deal to stay, which may motivate Chris to do the same.
If Mike retires? Well, Chris may be more willing to explore other options, although I imagine Baker would lobby Chris to stay.
JMac is certainly showing potential, but I think he’s still a year or two away from fully hitting his full stride. If the Bucs’ front office is serious about making a run in 2025, they’ve got to be factoring a seriously solid WR room into their thinking.
Yes, our D needs to be the focus during free agency and the draft.
But, the front office has shown real talent in terms of finding ways to work with the salary cap. We can find a way to bring Chris back and still do what we need to do for our defense.
January 28th, 2025 at 6:59 am
The IDEAL scenario is re-signing Godwin to a fair deal before the voided year accelerates. However, if talks break down, applying the non-exclusive franchise tag ensures Tampa retains leverage—whether by keeping a star receiver, negotiating a long-term deal, or trading him while only being responsible for the $18M voided year. This plan keeps us competitive and financially flexible.
Option 1: Re-Sign Him Before the Voided Year Hits The simplest solution is re-signing Godwin to a 3-year, $67M deal, which aligns with his market value. This approach allows Tampa to:
* Restructure the $18M voided year into the new contract, spreading the cap hit.
* Secure a top offensive weapon while maintaining cap stability.
Option 2: Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag If negotiations falter, the non-exclusive franchise tag ($22.5M) provides flexibility:
* Total cap impact if he plays under the tag: $40.5M (tag + voided year).
* If traded: Tampa would only be responsible for the $18M voided year, clearing $22.5M in cap space.
* Options include retaining Godwin, trading him for draft capital, or negotiating a long-term deal.
* Manageable with a few cap-friendly restructures (Evans, Vea, Winfield, Wirfs, Dean).
Example: In 2024, the Panthers Non-Exclusive Franchise Tagged and traded Brian Burns to the Giants for multiple draft picks, leaving only the voided year on their books.
Note: The 2025-2026 years automatically void 23 days before the league year begins, on March 12, 2025, at 4:00 PM PST—just 43 days away.
January 28th, 2025 at 7:07 am
Just the sign the guy! In addition to his skill set, he epitomizes the kind of selfless and driven players Licht and Bowles covet on this team.
January 28th, 2025 at 7:14 am
When was the last time Tampa let one of “their guys” leave in free agency. I don’t see him going anywhere unless he wants to be the main guy and I just dont see it happening.
January 28th, 2025 at 7:23 am
Well said, Vanessa Anne. Fully agree.
LUVMYBUCS – Great options.
PSL – True that about Bowles and Licht. Sign Chris.
January 28th, 2025 at 7:26 am
A contract expert at the four letter? Wow!
Go Bucs!
January 28th, 2025 at 7:36 am
He’ll get like a 2 year extension giving us a little more salary cap for this next season.
January 28th, 2025 at 7:49 am
LOVE Chris Godwin since seeing his first interview after getting drafted and learning his commitment to life and football.
He is not worth the cap gobble that a cash rich franchise is likely going to offer him. The affects and uncertainty after his recent two serious injuries and the simple wear and tear of age and football.
January 28th, 2025 at 8:03 am
Had the Mensa candidate pretending to be the HC not put him in a game that was over already over, perhaps he never gets injured.
Everything Bowles touches goes to crap.
Glazers need to make a bold move at the top.
Otherwise next season is already a waste.
28-27 Fire Bowles now!!!!
January 28th, 2025 at 8:15 am
I agree with Aqualung. Godwin is a Buc for life! A fellow Bucs fan & I debated this, & I was adamant that Chris isn’t playing for any team but Tampa. If his injury prevents him from continuing his career, that’s the only reason he wouldn’t be re-signed. I haven’t commented on here in a long time, but I feel so strongly about this, I had to say what I’m sure many Bucs fans feel in their gut – like Evans, Brooks, Selmon, Barber, Alstott, David & Wirfs – Chris Godwin will be a Buc for life, just like I’m a Bucs fan for life!
January 28th, 2025 at 8:26 am
Nice guy. Gets hurt way too easily. Can’t rely on him. Tee Higgins. That’s who the Bucs need.
January 28th, 2025 at 8:44 am
If we let Godwin go and become a run run pass punt team, might as well let Baker go too, re-sign Trask for league minimum and let him hand off and throw dump off passes
January 28th, 2025 at 8:57 am
Bucs need to spend money to put together a better D. I don’t think we’re gonna have enough to sign CG and put together a better D. Hope I’m wrong.
January 28th, 2025 at 8:58 am
I’d be so mad/sad if we lost him lol
January 28th, 2025 at 9:08 am
Godwin could have a few more all right pay days if he stays a Buc and can produce. He could have this contract and perhaps another one of $20+ Million. Leaving and expected to be the man and the ankle prohibits that could mean it is over.
January 28th, 2025 at 9:29 am
I could see it going 50/50. I’d prefer for him to stay & if it was up to me I’d still hang onto him & I’m sure Bowles didn’t do him any favors keeping him in at the end of the Baltimore game when they were gonna lose.
January 28th, 2025 at 9:31 am
If they let him go they better spend that $$$$ on D. But I’m sure they won’t because they’re too cheap.
January 28th, 2025 at 9:38 am
Hopefully he doesn’t go to Jacksonville with Coen. I hope Coen falls in their pool there at the stadium when it has no water in it & maybe it’ll scramble some braincells back in there & then he’ll realize he was stupid for leaving.
January 28th, 2025 at 9:41 am
If I were to guess right now I’m thinking it’ll be either Revel from Carolina Walker from Georgia or maybe even Campbell from Alabama 1st round. I wouldn’t mind seeing them get Barton from Utah a little later on. He could be a steal. Gbenda from Texas could be, too!
January 28th, 2025 at 9:47 am
Dang LUV perhaps YOU should be interviewing for the Jags GM spot!
Your analysis always contains nuggets of valuable information. You are clearly informed!
January 28th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Hahahaha Jeff. Did you seriously cite injuries and then ask for Tee Higgins?
Godwin hasn’t missed games for soft tissue stuff, he took 2 bad tackles and resulted in major injuries. Could have happened to anyone in the league. It’s bad luck, not being injury prone.
Godwin > Higgins
January 28th, 2025 at 9:53 am
Unless Godwin is chasing a bag to go to a different team he will be back with the Bucs next season, he was in the middle of having a career year so yeah he’ll be back
January 28th, 2025 at 9:59 am
I really dont like the idea of letting Godwin go.
January 28th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Bucs have a window right now. Baker is a on very team friendly deal for his level of play. We have to take advantage of it. Kick the can down the road with void years and make sure CG stays a buc. Go out and buy an edge rusher because god knows we can’t draft them. Draft a corner or stud line backer in the first and second round.
January 28th, 2025 at 10:07 am
Godwin has been franchised twice, a 3rd time guarantees 200% raise or avg of top 5 overall player salaries, QB included, franchise tag for Chris would be $50m which would count against the cap until a contract is worked out so no, tag is not happening
January 28th, 2025 at 10:10 am
If it comes down to spending the money on Godwin or spending it on a top FA edge rusher, I’d have to go with the defense. I just don’t know if a top FA edge rusher could be had for what we’d pay Godwin.
January 28th, 2025 at 10:15 am
Offer him a deal similar to Evans and that oughtta do it. Evans’ deal wasn’t really that huge, but you can’t really justify giving Godwin more. It’s a tough call because Chris was putting up ridiculous numbers before he got hurt… but he got hurt, and that drives the deal down, especially with the knee injury only being a couple years ago.
January 28th, 2025 at 10:16 am
29, two major injuries in three years, 18mil
Hate to say it, but I would pass — this team has a glaring problem with depth on defense and that money would go a long way to solve it.
Our receivers, even without Godwin, were strong and possession guys like CG can be found anywhere. Maybe not as threatening, but still functional.
January 28th, 2025 at 10:18 am
I kinda like the idea of ‘dirty hit suspensions’ equalling the time that the injured player is out.
End someone’s season, end your own.
End someone’s career, end your own.
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, fair is fair.
January 28th, 2025 at 10:37 am
If they manage a full season with Evans, J Mac, and CG, Baker breaks the all time passing record. Do that and build your defense, Bucs win a Super Bowl
January 28th, 2025 at 10:42 am
If the info on OverTheCap is correct, Bucs take a dead money cap hit of $18M if Godwin departs. If Godwin’s new deal is in ballpark of $24-25M, that means the Bucs only have to kick in an additional $6 or 7 mil. Plus, his new contract would be back-loaded, freeing up several additional mil in cap space. As Evans is getting up in age, and Bucs don’t have any reliable receivers other that Evans and Godwin ( plus McMillan showed a half-season of ‘promise’), I’d say that re-signing Godwin is an absolute must.
January 28th, 2025 at 10:52 am
@Tony
I wish to ask this respectfully.
“But I’m sure they won’t because they’re too cheap.”
Actually “being cheap” has nothing to do with it. The NFL has a salary cap to protect the owners from themselves. They are only “permitted” to spend so much. Admittedly it’s an absurdly complex (thankfully we have guys like Pickgrin/LUV and D.R. to help us sort it out.
Bottom line is that the Glazers have totally OVERSPENT that cap leading up to and since the SB. Cheapness has nothing to do with players.
GM’s, HC’s,Coordintors are a different story.
January 28th, 2025 at 10:56 am
He should be a Buc for life. Pay the man
January 28th, 2025 at 11:13 am
Run oriented coaches love Godwin because he blocks. That said, I expect Bucs to resign him at a reasonable number. Two major injuries in last few years and he’s not a burner.
January 28th, 2025 at 11:29 am
Chris sees the rise of Jmac. He’s not going to want to share touches . If Brady doesn’t offer him big money, Khan certainly will. Also, an outside chance Canales makes a move for him as well. In order to please Liam, Khan may overpay for Chris to bring some familiarity to Liam. 70/30 Chris is gone.
January 28th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
Signing him to a big contract could be a potentially huge mistake. What if he simply isn’t as good upon returning. We don’t even know if he is still reliable or not.
One year deal at best. If another team wants to pay him big to take a chance…then let them.
Be smart.
And Godwin has NOT earned a ‘Buc for life’ title.
January 28th, 2025 at 1:05 pm
I’ve been pointing out the genuine friendship between ME13 and CG14 for some time. That will be a factor. I just hope Godwin doesn’t decide to retire. Two illegal, deliberate, season ending injuries? That would make any human wonder even slightly if they have a target on their back? It also lowers their NFL value (unfortunately). I’m with the Chris-will-stay-a-Buc group. We’ll know in March. Fingers x’ed.
January 28th, 2025 at 1:06 pm
PowerOfPewter Says:
“If the info on OverTheCap is correct, Bucs take a dead money cap hit of $18M if Godwin departs. If Godwin’s new deal is in ballpark of $24-25M, that means the Bucs only have to kick in an additional $6 or 7 mil.”
Would be nice for the team if it it worked that way….. It doesn’t.
That $18.85M dead cap hit was already ‘spent’ 3 years ago – it consists of 3 dummy years added to the end of Godwins expired contract. Chris already received all of his money from that deal – and now the Bucs have to pay the piper for kicking the salary cap can down the road.
Same scenario involving the $17.4M for Shaq Barrett, $11.4M for Ryan Jensen, $2.65M for Nelson and $1.425M for Greg Gaines.
Total of over $52M in dead cap hits that the Buccaneers DO NOT have to spend in 2025 towards re-signing Godwin – as well as needed help at OLB, ILB and CB.
20% of the available money to spend this year is NOT available…..
This is the result when you “re-work” player contracts to buy cap space for any given year.
Hopefully the Bucs do very little can kicking this year and pay off a good chunk of debt so we can get back to some level of spending in free agency starting in 2026.
January 28th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
Godwin has no leverage
2 tough injuries
If he smart he signs a 1 yr deal prove it with incentives ranging from 300k to 500k plus a 2 million signing bonus
All in 8 million
Going somewhere else will affect his recovery and performance
January 28th, 2025 at 1:24 pm
BTW @LUVMYBUCS you should be a GM
January 28th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Sure is a good thing NONE of these wannabe GMs actual are employed by the BUCS… But then again i’m sure some of these posters are not actual BUCS fans, and just spewing stupidity and ignorance hoping to get us real fans p*ssed off!!!
January 28th, 2025 at 2:40 pm
If this is an all-In quote on quote “Super Bowl window” we need Godwin
January 28th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
@StPeteBucsFan
If they don’t have to spend the $$$$ they won’t.
January 28th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
@heyjude, StPete, and Peter
Thanks for the kind words, Bredren! Appreciate the recognition—always happy to share insights and contribute to the conversation.
January 28th, 2025 at 4:29 pm
i seriously doubt it. he has buc for life written all over him. jalen came on but lets be real he aint close to godwin in any way shape or form. workout a 2 year deal or franchise him if we cant work something out. we cannot lose this guy.
January 28th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Joe already spoke many times on podcasts with Ira Kaufman (before the season ended) that fans should expect Chris Godwin back. That’s been written here as well. If a huge offers comes at him from a contender, all bets are off. –Joe
January 28th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
I think the SB window is closed for the Bucs until Bowles is gone. With Bowles, the Bucs will just be trying to get in the playoff and win a game or two. If any of you watched the Chiefs vs Bills, it’s that type of aggression that gets your team deep into the playoffs.
January 28th, 2025 at 7:04 pm
Make him a buc for life. Find money under the glazers couch to pay for defensive players. Tampa fans love Godwin. He means a lot to this city. He’s a tru pro and man he puts his life on the line for our entertainment. Let the man get paid when he’s healthy he’s deff worth every penny
January 28th, 2025 at 8:09 pm
Tony
“If they don’t have to spend the $$$$ they won’t.”
Can you explain then why they OVERSPENT the cap by so much? They not only didn’t have to they EXCEEDED the limit set by the NFL.
January 29th, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Must resign Chris Godwin. Should be a Buc for life! I have jerseys for Mike and Lavonte and want one for Baker. I have 2 Godwin jerseys. Favorite player all time.
1A &1B. Give him the same contract as Mike got last year. He’s earned it and he’ll come back just fine. With him back and running the same offense we score over 30 a game.
LFG!!!