Bucs Praised For Most Underrated Signing In Free Agency
March 23rd, 2025
Bucs GM Jason Licht
Former NFL defensive lineman turned CBS analyst Kyle Long is a tough grader.
Heck, he even gave the Bucs’ front office a “C+” for its moves during the first two weeks of 2025 free agency.
Long emphasizes that’s not a bad grade because for him a “C” means getting the job done. Passing.
In his CBS breakdown of the Bucs moves in free agency, Long did not praise the signing of edge rusher Haason Reddick (perhaps he watched 2024 Jets film?) but he did want to make two things clear to fans.
First, Long said, Lavonte David should donate his body to science. Long is a huge fan, called David a “terminator” and believes he’s a Hall of Famer.
Second, per Long, Chris Godwin is the most underrated free agency signing in the NFC this year.
Yes, Chris Godwin.
“That home team discount, guys not trying to hold [the Bucs’] feet to the fire [for money], it speaks volumes about the program in Tampa Bay,” Long said, adding that Godwin is a tremendous outlet for Baker Mayfield because he’s such a versatile receiver.
The Godwin commitment is a fascinating two-way street. The Bucs don’t really know if Godwin, at 29 years old, can get back to 100 percent after his ugly dislocated ankle; and Godwin reportedly turned down about $20 million over the next three seasons from the Patriots.
If Godwin indeed proves to be the most underrated signing this year, then the Bucs offense likely maintains its 2024 pace of scoring 29.5 points per game. That surely would get the Bucs to the postseason — even without defensive improvement.
March 23rd, 2025 at 12:11 pm
Griz will need to average 33.5 per game for 10 wins, considering the trajectory of the pass defense and its coordinator.
March 23rd, 2025 at 12:21 pm
It is hard to imagine the Bucs getting to the post season without defensive improvement. With that said, Licht has said the team is aware they need a few pieces defensively. The question is can they add 1 maybe 2 good LB’s and a corner this year. It is hard to understand why the so called experts are picking the Bucs to take a wide receiver with the first pick. Maybe the draft is so deep defensively that they believe the Bucs can add defensive talent that can make an impact in the later rounds .
Anyway all you have to do is go back to the Washington loss in the playoffs to realize to win you must have a defense that can stop an offense to close out a game. If your offense is not on the field at the end , you can’t win the way the team currently stands.
March 23rd, 2025 at 12:28 pm
GO BUCS
March 23rd, 2025 at 12:34 pm
It’s team building 101,,, a family ,, guys that will go through walls for each other ,,, 12-5 ,, 2 seed and winner of NFC south ,,,, again
March 23rd, 2025 at 12:36 pm
We love Chris Godwin, but I have serious doubts about his ability to come back this time and play at a high level. It was a gamble to re-sign him, could be prove to be a big mistake. Hope not.
March 23rd, 2025 at 12:39 pm
Godwin was a Fantasy football league winner if he stayed healthy last year. If Grizzard can scheme up as good as Cohen or better than the sky is limit for this offense. Reddick was in a samurai dress in Japan during mandatory mini camp.
March 23rd, 2025 at 12:42 pm
[Not sure you are aware, but there are just shy of 60,000 stories in Joe’s free archives you can browse. If one story doesn’t meet your standards, Joe is confident you can certainly find one or perhaps two in the free archives. It is the offseason you know? You really expect Joe to shut down for eight months a year? What successful business does that other than one run by billionaires or bankrolled by government money? As always, Joe types what interests Joe. And given there’s not one Bucs site that comes close to Joe’s traffic, not even Buccaneers.com, Joe has a pretty good hunch he knows what he’s doing otherwise this site wouldn’t have been around for 17 years. — Joe]
March 23rd, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Keep the daily stories coming Joe’s. We really appreciate it. Especially in the off-season. Sad people come here to complain about content. Makes no sense. Then write your own articles. Am i right? Go Bowles!
March 23rd, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Bucswin!:
Thank you. Outside of stats-heavy articles, there’s not a whole lot to write about in the offseason when the Bucs don’t offer up players and/or coaches. People are complaining about too many Haason Reddick stories, well geez, Joe could regurgitate the same bios of draft projects for months. Yuck. That’s why Joe generally waits until April to go full-in on the draft, if for no other reason than to save his sanity.
And judging by Joe’s traffic, he must be doing something correctly. More people come here this time of the year than any Bucs-specific site. By the thousands.
March 23rd, 2025 at 1:31 pm
Joe—I was having fun. Nothing personal.
To me, most all talking heads are just that—talking heads.
The cut was meant for Long, many in a long list of those who are somehow employed to offer a meaningless opinion.
And I didn’t request the eight month shutdown. That was another guy.
I enjoy your stories, but I didn’t know they were all supposed to be serious.
Also, some of these guys are good. I’ve even come to like Simms and Florio, who the latter I once loathed.
Why?
Because they put in the work, and during a long driving trek I came to appreciate it. Also, anyone who finds Aaron Rogers off his rocker, like Florio, is ok by me.
March 23rd, 2025 at 1:35 pm
I look forward each day to reading any article herein about the Bucs! Reply’s not so much. Keep them coming Joes!
March 23rd, 2025 at 2:01 pm
Judging by some of what Joe has written above I wonder if this would be a good time to wonder aloud if the loyal readers of JBF have reached an eloquent sufficiency of Jihaad Campbell stories. Probably not.
March 23rd, 2025 at 2:09 pm
You keep it real during the off season. Thank you!
March 23rd, 2025 at 2:11 pm
Nice to know the Bucs are a solid organization with players taking less to stay. Long gone are the days of Culverhouse and overpaying for Alvin Harper.
March 23rd, 2025 at 2:15 pm
Gotta keep it close.
March 23rd, 2025 at 2:15 pm
Wanted to add. Football is the only sport I follow with a passion. After I check email, this is the first place I go.
March 23rd, 2025 at 2:30 pm
You could do an article about Hassan Reddick allegedly hiring goons to intimidate his business partner. I’d love to hear how that mesh’s with the team is family culture we have here. I’m sure it would be a good read.
March 23rd, 2025 at 2:49 pm
Joe: “The Bucs don’t really know if Godwin, at 29 years old, can get back to 100 percent after his ugly dislocated ankle“
Yes. They do. Doubting Chris Godwin is silly.
March 23rd, 2025 at 3:16 pm
I said last year I was confident the Bucs would make the playoffs and yes this year both the Offense and Defense have gotten better. Getting Reddick will improve the pass rush. Getting Walker (letting go of Britt) will improve pass coverage in the middle of the field. Re-signing Lavonte was important to our run defense. He just knows where to be most of the time. I’d guess we’ll sign a safety at 19 which makes the safety/corner room stronger and much more interchangeable (moving capable backs to the slot position). Offensively we have the best WR duo in our division, a really solid line O line, very good backs, good TE’s. 12-5 in this crap division is doable with at least a divisional round appearance but most likely conference appearance.
March 23rd, 2025 at 3:20 pm
he did it because he loves his teammates,organization and that they can win a superbowl period. says alot because hes been there and done that. strength and conditioning along with rest and recovery is the key. being lucky enough to avoid bad situations and catastrophic injuries. Cant beleive were this lucky to be fans of this team to see possibly a once in a lifetime tandem like this being team first players and ego free. i personally believe that their specific skill sets compliment each other better than any tandem ive ever watched.
March 23rd, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Joe, and word on if we bring back Devin White
March 23rd, 2025 at 3:43 pm
Godwin will bounce back. He’s a fast healer and will be a beast for the Bucs once again!
March 23rd, 2025 at 3:44 pm
As always, Joe types what interests Joe. And given there’s not one Bucs site that comes close to Joe’s traffic, not even Buccaneers.com,
heres some interesting article ideas,
Trade bait and value ? Jamel Dean and Rachad White
March 23rd, 2025 at 4:08 pm
IrishTony is perceptive. Number 19 will be Emmanwori if he survives that long. We have one Alabama LB who hasn’t yet shown much. Emmanwori can play either strong safety or linebacker. Hard to coach his 4.38 speed at 6’ 3” 220 lbs.
March 23rd, 2025 at 4:16 pm
The Detroit lions added D.J. Reed and got a B for it sooo I think they are basing their grades on how they feel about the entire roster.
March 23rd, 2025 at 4:30 pm
If I could type fast I would be the digital computer equivalent of “long winded”. Be happy that I cannot.
😅Go Bucs!!
March 23rd, 2025 at 5:16 pm
It’s so important to have a team chemistry and an organization where people WANT to play and people WANT to stay. Guys who want to win and make sacrifices to do that are invaluable to a franchise.
March 23rd, 2025 at 5:24 pm
Having a good culture, winning games, having a player coach certainly helps our cause with FA but…
the main factors have nothing to do with the team. Cannot overstate how lucky we are to have a franchise in the sunshine with no state income tax. 2 massive selling points. The culture is a cherry on top.
March 23rd, 2025 at 5:29 pm
I think if there was a problem with Godwin’s recovery, it would have been more likely he would have jumped at the chance to get as much money as was offered. Especially if the reports of $20 million, that’s enough to overcome any state income tax hit.
The fact that he re-signed indicates – to me – that Godwin is going to be just fine, and that he believes in this team accomplishing great things.
March 23rd, 2025 at 5:38 pm
Just speculation, but Godwin may not be ready to play until mid season.
And knowing his past work, he will return at a high level.
The Bucs may target a WR with a 2nd or 3rd round pick.
March 23rd, 2025 at 6:19 pm
Joe keeps the offseason fun. Thank you.
March 23rd, 2025 at 6:22 pm
Doubting Godwin and giving me $20+ million is two different things.
One is hope the other is a huge gamble.
And if we are building a family we have several grandpas on the team
March 23rd, 2025 at 7:04 pm
First Last Says:
March 23rd, 2025 at 3:39 pm
Joe, and word on if we bring back Devin White
^^^^^^^
You probably have gotten back with your psycho girlfriend several times too, right?
March 23rd, 2025 at 8:10 pm
I agree with Long about Godwin but I also believe Baker and his offense can do it with Godwin part time or without him altogether. If Godwin really makes it back 90-95%, that’s even better. One or two key plays per game from Godwin will be huge.
March 23rd, 2025 at 9:17 pm
@Joe
I love when people decide to question your editorial decisions and you deign to respond! Some classic takedowns and this is the time of the year for it!!!.
Tonight’s response was very entertaining.
March 23rd, 2025 at 9:25 pm
Riley Dixon is the most underrated free agent signing. Bucs didn’t lose games because Godwin was out. They did lose games because Camarda was out.
March 23rd, 2025 at 9:42 pm
Nothing like living in a world of takedowns.
Awesome.
March 23rd, 2025 at 10:27 pm
The articles bring me here. The responses keep me entertained.
Yes, some articles are better than others. I would not try to tell “Joe” which is which because my druthers are not the other guys(or gals) or the others, or the others.
Different stories elicit different responses. Some of those are deep and informative. Others are just silly whether they are meant to be or not. And of course, some are downright irritating.
Almost all of them are entertaining though.
Thank you Joe(s) for keeping me entertained (FOR FREE!).
March 24th, 2025 at 12:08 am
Pardon me if this was mentioned, I had a thought that another reason Godwin stayed was Patriots aren’t deep in WR talent and the expectation would be for Godwin to carry a lot of the work for $20 million a year. My thought is he wouldn’t want that pressure and the punishment being WR1 while working back into shape. Bucs would definitely play him but at a pace that “protects him within reason” that helps him recover then excel similar to the ACL recovery. Also as mentioned, Baker is a better QB which would mean less throws that could lead Chris to get unnecessary hits.
March 24th, 2025 at 2:37 am
Football never stops….NEVER! And this is my favorite time of year…off season/combine/draft….where you earn your reputation. Its hit and miss at times, but we’ve been hitting lately….and it will continue.