BSPN: Bucs Got A Bargain With Chris Godwin
March 13th, 2025
What risk?
The way it’s going for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, he’ll have to send his wife to do the dirty work when he next needs a new car.
No local dealership will want to negotiate with him for fear of getting taken to the cleaners.
In the mind of Seth Walder of BSPN, a man who never met a number he didn’t like, Licht got away with another heist Monday when he got receiver Chris Godwin to re-up.
While Walder admits Godwin is not a sure thing — no one has seen him run a route since dislocating his ankle in October — for the price Licht (Mike Greenberg?) got Godwin, it negated any risk in retaining him.
The deal: Three years, $66 million ($44 million guaranteed)
Grade: A-
… Considering Tee Higgins isn’t available, that DK Metcalf cost $30 million per year and a second-round pick and that Davante Adams cost $23 million per year, the Bucs getting Godwin back at this price is a bargain. Having a second playmaker for Baker Mayfield to target beyond Mike Evans is crucial for the health of the Tampa Bay offense.
Godwin comes with some risk, of course. He just turned 29 years old and is coming off an ankle injury that limited him to only seven games in 2024. But he’s also coming off his best season since he tore his ACL at the end of the 2021 season, increasing his yards per route run from 1.8 in 2022 and 1.9 in 2023 to 2.5 in a limited sample in 2024. … He was worth bringing back, particularly at this price.
Everything hinges on Godwin’s ankle. Joe doesn’t know why Godwin was so secretive about his rehab on Tuesday. Godwin couldn’t even tell Bucs fans if he plans to take the field Week 1?
Aside from the ankle, there is no risk with Godwin. The Bucs know this all too well. Godwin’s going to bust his tail, he’s going to be a tremendous teammate and he will be the first-class person the franchise likes to boast is a model citizen.
Godwin is the ultimate professional.
March 13th, 2025 at 4:19 am
Sounds like Chris was open about a lot of things and just not open about something that he definitively doesn’t know the answer. He’ll be on the field when he can be on the field and no one should doubt his efforts about that. He’s earned that level of trust and I think that’s where’s he’s coming from. Nothing sinister, just not going to go where he’s unsure. Happy as heck that he never left and Joe’s last sentence says it all.
March 13th, 2025 at 4:52 am
The Bucs know more about CG’s injury and rehab than anyone. They wouldn’t make the investment if he wasn’t coming along. The Glazers aren’t a charity.
March 13th, 2025 at 5:20 am
Joe … ‘Godwin is the ultimate professional.’
That says it all about Chris. No need to worry about him.
March 13th, 2025 at 5:44 am
I think CG should take his time getting back onto the field. It seems that no one is pushing him to do that with the emergence of Jalen McMillan. We have a solid receiving core, and honestly I think we should draft a receiver if one falls to us in the first round.
Anyway, Joe, we need an article on Cam Jordan restructuring with the Saints. How is he even still in the league!
March 13th, 2025 at 5:58 am
We don’t know if he will be healthy enough to start the season. No info seems to be forthcoming. It is a state secret and HIPAA says so. It is a bit frustrating for Godwin fans out here in Bucville.
He is one tough dude though. Rehab from injury is usually painful… as in very painful… so I am sure he is giving it his best. I do not even know what a dislocated ankle is. Never heard of it before Chris.
Go Bucs!
March 13th, 2025 at 6:29 am
His ankle was dislocated on purpose….. everyone saw the play !!! They couldnt stop him so lets be dirty and take him out!!! Total B*llsh*t
He is a awesome person .
March 13th, 2025 at 6:47 am
I genuinely believe that Godwin was on track to a first team all-pro this year along with the year he tore his ACL. Which puts his career on a completely different trajectory with the first team all-pro he has already and a super Bowl title
March 13th, 2025 at 7:22 am
How do we know if the Bucs got a bargain?
Until I see Godwin playing on Sundays this Fall I don’t really know anything…
I hope we got a bargain and he returns to form but we won’t know for another 5 months or so.
March 13th, 2025 at 7:45 am
We keep hearing there were bigger offers but we don’t know the details of those contracts. I’m sure others offered more potential cash but players ultimately value guarantees, that’s what they know they will walk away with regardless of injury. I would bet the Bucs matched any guaranteed amount and the remaining difference was fluff that’s built into an additional year on the back end. Knowing how cheap the Patriots operate, my guess is their offer was built on a variety of per game bonuses and an inflated salary in the last year. So if he hit all those performance measures then he makes more but if he gets injured which he does frequently, he’ll never see that extra cash.
March 13th, 2025 at 8:02 am
“Joe doesn’t know why Godwin was so secretive about his rehab on Tuesday.”
Why would Godwin feel any need to disclose this information to any national or local media? What would that do to help him and the team in the 2025 season?
It would not be like you ‘Joes” who would keep that information to yourselves, am I right? So, would any information any other NFC South team could gain would be used against our team? Right???
Glad we have Godwin back for another 3 seasons…
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
March 13th, 2025 at 8:10 am
I wish the Joe’s would consult with someone — maybe a sponsor that could actually give them better injury information.
Their speculations on guys like JPP and Jenson have always been way off.
For example: Their narrative that JPP coming back from a broken neck was really impossible. No it was not.
For example: Their narrative that Jenson’s best chance to come back from an ACL tear was to not have surgery. No it was not.
Two things can be true.
1. Hard to really know how serious an injury can be on an NFL player.
2. Getting medical opinions from anyone but the Joe’s is a good thing.
March 13th, 2025 at 8:52 am
Net Effect: signing GB resulted in $18.9 M in dead cap converting to $5M in cap room.
March 13th, 2025 at 9:08 am
and to think just 7 to 8 months ago JOE was writing articles that the Bucs could not have two $20M+ receivers, even though they had 2 on staff at time of writing articles.
March 13th, 2025 at 9:27 am
He’s going to miss the first 8 days! Mark the tape!
March 13th, 2025 at 11:18 am
Bucs fans are very grateful for Chris Godwin.
Refreshing Class Acts – truly unselfish, team players, who are willing blockers, great teammates, and excellent role models as star top wide receivers
1. Mike Evans 1a. Chris Godwin
This at a position known in the NFL for selfish prima donna star WRs – Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, Michael Irwin, Randy Moss, Antonio Brown, Dez Bryant, Deebo Samuel, Keyshawn Johnson, Odell Beckham, Brandon Marshall, Andre Rison, Joe Horn, Plaxico Burriss, DeSean Jackson
March 13th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Agreed RustyRhinos.
Way too early to be disclosing anything. Could be a set back, maybe a target he sets forth is missed… that will just cause hand wringing and panic in some. He’s got another 5 months to rehab and strengthen. He will be fine.
March 13th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
Well Jeff missing the first 8 DAYS isn’t a big deal bahahha. Go away with your negativity.
March 13th, 2025 at 8:47 pm
Joe I know your worked up about CGs injury but like you said he’s going to work his tail off and that right there I have no concern for. I have no doubt he will be back just in time. When the time is unclear but it will be perfect timing lol