Chris Godwin Status Is Murky
February 25th, 2025
So how healthy or unhealthy is Chris Godwin?
That was a major discussion today at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht was talking to Joe and assembled media and spoke about how much the Bucs want Godwin on the roster and love and respect the guy. But Licht offered no clarity on Godwin’s health status as he recovers from a dislocated ankle.
Repeatedly, Licht was asked but kept repeating that Godwin, a pending free agent, had a major injury and he’s progressing — “you know Chris, he’s doing everything we can” — and the team is on top of the progress.
Joe asked Licht if Godwin’s specific injury had a projected return date from the start when it was suffered against the Ravens in October. Was that May or July? Licht wouldn’t go there. “I don’t want to say anything right now on that,” he said.
Prior to Licht speaking, Joe had learned that the Bucs don’t expect re-signing Godwin to cost the fortune many fans are speculating on social media.
February 25th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
That’s kinda concerning is he damaged goods now? Exactly how effective will he be if he is coming at what sounds like a sizable discount and if they use him in the same way they have been how long will he stay healthy? Yikes. Go bucs!!
February 25th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
I love Godwin but you have to wonder if it might be better to draft the Ohio st kid, sign a vet and still have 10 million left over to sign more in free agency.
February 25th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
Tee Higgins. That’s who the Bucs should target.
February 25th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
Jason wants to cast doubt to scare away the other teams. Duh. He’s not going to dish the intel.
February 25th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Sorry for my grandsons nonsense he’s a special little guy if you know what I mean
February 25th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Those who think we’re going to get Godwin back on some cheap deal…
Khalil Shakir, for the Bills since you probably didn’t know, just signed a 4yr / $60m contract with $32m guaranteed.
Godwin is going to cost a lot to keep. I hope they get it done, but it’s going to be expensive.
February 25th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Prior to Licht speaking, Joe had learned that the Bucs don’t expect re-signing Godwin to cost the fortune many fans are speculating on social media.
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I don’t see how that is possible unless Godwin is more injured than we know. But who knows – they got Evans back on a ridiculously cheap deal, so maybe it happens.
February 25th, 2025 at 1:02 pm
Injured on a 3rd and 17 from your own 18, down 2 scores and no time outs.
After Godwin was injured making the first down at the Bucs 39 only one of the final six plays was thrown deep. Trying to Win my A$$.
Up 41 to 18 the Ravens were content to let Bucs pad stats but get out of the game without injury.
By the final drive they were certainly annoyed and were looking for a chance to make the Bucs regret it.
Godwin is a warrior and will do whatever he is asked to do but had to have wondered why. What was the point?
Head coach, OC , QB, or a combination of All pushing to go full out are Idiots.
Why not? They were not the one’s put in harms way.
Doubt Godwin would say a word to the dummies but I would not be surprised if all the while during rehab he was not thinking of getting in his best shape for where he is going next.
February 25th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
kind of an ambiguous tainting the well just enough to scare other teams for the competitive advantage in resigning?
February 25th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
Who knows what to think.
February 25th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
Two costly injuries in two years.
He was supposed to return by the playoffs.
At least 8-10 solid WR vets in FA.
He’s damaged and the market is saturated.
February 25th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Jason is correctly holding his cards close to the vest regarding Godwin’s recovery status.
If the Bucs and Godwin are just too far apart to consummate a deal before legal tampering begins (March 10th?) – then it may be necessary to let Chris ‘test the market’ by listening to actual offers from other teams in order to establish what his actual market value is coming off the major injury….
The way that ‘extension’ was written should allow Chris to hear offers before he actually becomes available to sign with another team on March 12th…..
IMO – a fair deal for both sides would be 3 years – $50M – $20M Guaranteed – Plus a plethora of incentives for availability and performance each season that could add an additional $5-$6M per year on top. So Chris gets over $20M per year if he’s playing like he always has – but the Bucs get some small level of protection against the possibility that this injury effected his abilities and/or of Chris missing any significant # of games in a future season….
There’s no way around the fact that horrible inury last year cost Chris a LOT of money. Many Millions. But the market is the market – and the Bucs cannot be expected to pay more than “market value” at the moment when renegotiating a new contract for their long time stud receiver when he is coming back from a very serious injury….
February 25th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
why would he tell the world about godwin, keep it in house.
February 25th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Playing his cards close to the vest.
Why would he say Chris is doing great and ahead of schedule and increase other teams’ interest?
Right now we are the only tea who can know his status and they are not going to blow that.
February 25th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Jeff, you got some wild thoughts man.
Reading the tea leaves here… I will say Godwin is back on a deal that lessens his cap hit this season and is prolly getting 25 next season.
David, tough to say, I don’t think he is waiting to see what moves are made. Obviously he wants to win but how physically and mentally prepared for another season does he feel? That’s all he will be asking himself, along with… pumping up his numbers for HoF.
JL talking edge… wouldn’t be surprised at all if we drafted Donovan Ezeruike from BC. I saw a comparison of him and Green and the length of Donovan, his arm length etc is quite a bit longer than Green which I liked.
Green, Donovan, Jihaad, Mykel Williams (very little production but 20 and played injured this season). I kinda expect one of them unless they really like Starks or Barron … I am not sure what to make of Jalon Walker, can you deploy him and get production out of him like Philly did Nolan Smith in year 2?
February 25th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
I am positively thinking that Jason wants to keep the other teams away by not stating too much about Chris injury. It could be close to fully rehabbed. Better to keep others sidelined and the Bucs keep Chris. Hoping if he is fully recovered he takes a deal like Mike and Baker did.
February 25th, 2025 at 1:41 pm
I love CG14 as hell….One of my favorite Bucs ever….
Rumor is Washington is chasing him and they have a generous wallet….
I wouldn’t get on a bidding war…doesn’t make much sense…..
I would also bet Panthers and Jags will also be interested…..
I wouldn’t overpay, when we have so many needs on defense…….
February 25th, 2025 at 2:00 pm
My personal scouts say that New England and Baltimore are interested. They have not been wrong yet.
February 25th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
zzbucs and geno711 – That is probably why Jason isn’t talking. He knows teams are looking. I agree, no bidding war. Hoping Chris takes less and retires a Buc.
February 25th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
Im just trolling you all. I really do know how to do math and that Khalil Shakir is younger than Chris Godwin. I also fully realize that Shakir is now only making 15 Mil/season (4-yr -60 mil) which is markedly lower than Godwin’s last contract (3yr-60 mil).
Seeing as Godwin is advanced in age and has a history of injuries its likely that he will sign a deal at (or slightly higher) or under his last deal which he signed when he was in his prime and younger. So with that logic, it seems like Godwin’s value is somewhere in the 18-22/mil per season range.
If he had not gotten hurt last year this would not be the case at all and Godwin would be due at least 22-28 Mil/ per season and the Bucs would not have a shot at signing him low
February 25th, 2025 at 2:19 pm
Could see Godwin getting another 3yr/$60M deal from Licht, but would honestly rather spend that coin elsewhere (IE…Proven Pass Rusher.)
To me, the thought of the Bucs re-upping Godwin for up to $20M/yr for age 29-31 seasons (while his post-injury recovery period is still unknown) feels like the law of diminishing returns is squarely on the horizon. Would rather let him walk in FA a year or two before he’s washed & back-fill with a cheaper FA option or rookie contract draft prospect.
February 25th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
Chris’s health has been a concern for me even tho it’s hardly been mentioned up til now.
Can/will he return as the 100% CG we saw last year?
That was a gruesome injury that would seem to be the type that could have lasting effects. How confident can he feel making cuts at full speed on the field again on that ankle?
Hoping for Chris 🤞🏼
February 25th, 2025 at 2:28 pm
No way do you pay him 20 mil per.
Egbuka in rd 1 or look for Hollywood Brown, Diggs or even Dhop. All much cheaper and can still play. I like Chris but that is Garrett money for the next two years. We cant tie that amount of money in 2 wr.
February 25th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Starting to wonder if Godwin career is over. He has had 2 pretty bad knee injuries.
February 25th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Godwin’s going to Jax to play for El Serpiente — until his kid gets sick and Chris goes AWOL and signs with the Bucs. Payback.
February 25th, 2025 at 4:51 pm
JL seems to be in smoke screen mode already that’s what’s up.
Wise not to say much rn
February 25th, 2025 at 5:03 pm
A lot of idiots on this blog. Glad none of you are running this team. Nobody on here knows what kind shape or the money he will command. But what I do know is he has been a really good player for us . Worth every dollar we paid. You just don’t let guys like that leave for nothing. I think half people on here think he should be in the old folks home. As far the injury update I agree with BuckyBuc why would you tell anything at all to some Idiot reporter.
February 25th, 2025 at 7:35 pm
I want Godwin to be a Buc, but I hope he gets paid!!