Bank On It
October 26th, 2020
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
The Bucs face critical decisions in the offseason regarding key defensive players.
Lavonte David, Shaq Barrett and Ndamukong Suh are unsigned past the 2020 season, but the No. 1 contract priority rests on the other side of the football.
Chris Godwin must be retained at all costs.
Godwin’s rookie deal runs out at the end of the year and his value to this franchise is unquestionable. The latest example came in Sunday’s victory in Las Vegas, where Godwin caught all nine passes sent his
way. You don’t see that very often.
Chris Godwin after yesterday’s Vegas beating
That’s like hitting on 16 in Blackjack and catching a 5.
But for Godwin, it’s not that unusual. His catch percentage this season is astounding, despite missing three games due to a concussion and an injured hamstring.
For the year, Godwin has latched onto 25 of 29 targets, an 86 percent success rate that tops all NFL wide receivers with at least 25 receptions. Last season, when he was asked to transition to the slot, Godwin caught 71 percent of the throws sent his way.
Mike Evans has a bigger catch radius, but Godwin plays just as big. He is turning out to be one of the great draft picks in Buc history, plucked in the third round out of Penn State after 10 wide receivers had already come off the board.
“Yeah, he’s right there with some guys that I’ve had like Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald, Hines Ward,” says Bruce Arians. “He can do the receiver dirty work and go down the field. That’s the thing he has over all of them.”
That’s high praise from a guy who’s been around.
In his first year of eligibility, Wayne was named one of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020. Ward has been a semifinalist several times. Fitzgerald will undoubtedly wear a gold jacket once his playing days are done.
Ward and Godwin share enviable traits at the position. They are roughly the same size and both excel at making the difficult catches in traffic. Both are considered ferocious blockers and both are ultimate team players.
If you believe in the concept of a glue guy, these two ace the eye test.
“He’s doing an unbelievable job,” said Tom Brady. “We’re growing together every day, and I have so much respect for him (Godwin) as a player. His style of play, how he complements Mike and Scotty.”
Easy Call, No Matter How Difficult
Even if Antonio Brown comes to One Buc Place and tears it up, Godwin needs to stay. His selfless attitude has endeared him to teammates and coaches alike.
You don’t allow a 24-year-old stud to depart as a free agent — not if you’re serious about chasing the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Retaining Godwin won’t be easy. He won’t come cheap … and he shouldn’t. Every team in this league could use a player with his skills and temperament.
Have you seen Godwin’s precision as a route runner? He’s turning defensive backs inside out every week and he has a nose for the end zone.
On his touchdown catch Sunday, Godwin lined up tight on the right side. He never stopped moving as Brady rolled right before firing a laser to Godwin in the right corner.
“He’s a deep threat when he’s healthy, and to me he is the ultimate football player,” Arians says. “He blocks like a tight end, he runs routes like the best wides in the league, inside or outside, and that’s why he is so valuable to our offense.”
Jason Licht has a no-brainer, writes Ira Kaufman.
Godwin’s agent is in the catbird seat, and that’s alright. If the Bucs are foolish enough to let him test free agency, Godwin would be in high demand.
That’s not going to happen.
The first selection Jason Licht ever made as GM of the Bucs was Mike Evans.
Stud.
In 2017, Licht selected Godwin with pick No. 84.
Stud.
If Brown thinks he’s going to come to Tampa and immediately supplant this tandem, he’s out of his route tree.
Evans is playing hurt, so there may be an opportunity there for Brown to make a quick impact. But Godwin has earned Brady’s trust, and that of Buc Nation.
He’s not going anywhere, except to the bank.
Ira’s friend Sean Sullivan, the Bill Currie Ford, will give you a special Ira Kaufman/JoeBucsFan discount, in addition to truly exemplary service.
Ira drives a 2020 Ford Escape from Bill Currie Ford. It really is a sweet, luxurious ride.
October 26th, 2020 at 5:46 pm
Plays the game so well… seems like he makes ways to get open
October 26th, 2020 at 5:47 pm
I’ve always felt that there should be a different cap rule to retain players you have drafted… maybe they only count one quarter towards the cap, or maybe none at all.
It hurts really bad to have great players that you can’t keep just because the timing is wrong when their rookie contract ends.
October 26th, 2020 at 5:55 pm
Well said as usual Ira.
October 26th, 2020 at 5:56 pm
MAGA
“MAKE ANTONIO GREAT AGAIN”!!!
October 26th, 2020 at 6:00 pm
As for Godwin, the chickens will come home to roost….
I advocated extending Godwin’s contract this year (cheaper route)…..give him some money now for savings later….but, no….no….no….Joe says…..we have him under contract….why spend the money?
Well…..we will have a very difficult time taking care of Godwin & LVD while keeping Suh, Shaq, Gronk…..and you can just about forget about Fournette playing for cheap….
We could draft a Tackle in round 1 or 2 and replace D. Smith’s 14.2 mil salary….that would help…..but our options are few.
October 26th, 2020 at 6:03 pm
When Licht drafts a WR you can usually take it to the bank. Tampa and Pittsburgh just know how to draft receivers. If new England to some lessons they may still have Brady. Where are all of those guys that were crying about us drafting DBs. Licht is pretty good at that too (VH3 excluded). Don’t tell me that they are BAs picks. His teams always sucked at drafting in AZ. If all Licht picks are on BA then VH3 and company are on Kutter.
October 26th, 2020 at 6:07 pm
Agree Ira. Retain Godwin at just about all costs.
October 26th, 2020 at 6:12 pm
tampabaybuc fan, that is perfect, the MAGA tagline goes with the nuts of the world !
October 26th, 2020 at 6:44 pm
Look around the league : These teams are in bad need of a WR and Godwin checks all the boxes: Packers, Eagles, Ravens, Texans, and more.
If CG’s agent is smart, Bucs have to break the bank and pay him No. 1 money or else he walks
October 26th, 2020 at 7:22 pm
We better keep Godwin and David. I would like Suh also the rest don’t care to much about the rest but Godwin and David are must keeps no matter what. You can’t replace their skills and leadership.
October 26th, 2020 at 7:30 pm
I’d keep Godwin before Evans anyday. Suh, Gronk, and Donovan Smith won’t be Bucs next year. Need to sign Godwin, LVD and Barrett.
October 26th, 2020 at 7:31 pm
well i love both of them guys evans and godwin, and hate to say it but i don’t see this combo playing together for long, the fact of the matter is we got a bunch of good players need contracts redone and extending godwin while maintaining mikes deal gonna be expensive, there is no doubt that mike is a future HOF, with a lot of football left, but for certain he has taken a beating thru his career, jameis put him in more positions to get killed with high throws, behind throws, you name it, and it is slowly showing, with nagging injuries seems like he can’t overcome, and tyler johnson, looking very promising, with the elevated play of scotty miller, they may want to trade ME13 while they can get something good for him jmho i hope not but i would not put it passed licht
October 26th, 2020 at 7:43 pm
Got to drop mike keep Antonio on a cheap deal next year keep godwin
October 26th, 2020 at 8:11 pm
not only can he play…
but he has his mind right
#GodwinIsAyeBoss
October 26th, 2020 at 8:14 pm
they might be phasing mike out and going to trade him to free up a lot of cap space…
hope not tho…
it’s a freakin’ business…………………………………sucks
October 26th, 2020 at 8:20 pm
Did anyone else raise an eyebrow when Brady said Godwin is a compliment to Evans and Miller?
Apparently, Miller has earned himself a place at the table.
October 26th, 2020 at 8:37 pm
Does the club have a 5th year option?
October 26th, 2020 at 8:38 pm
We shall see what happens when this season is done. Chris has not been able to suit up for 6 of the last 13 games. The best ability is availability. Chris has proven he is a stud receiver in this league. So hope all goes well and they end up giving a deal worthy of his play. Great player, great teammate. GO BUCS!!!!!!
October 26th, 2020 at 8:38 pm
LD54 is a top priority resigning as well.
October 26th, 2020 at 8:59 pm
Cdog76 Says:
October 26th, 2020 at 8:37 pm
Does the club have a 5th year option?
No….only on 1st round picks….
October 26th, 2020 at 9:25 pm
can i order some chinese food?
oops wrong website
October 26th, 2020 at 9:48 pm
lol drop mike and keep antonio brown??!? tf are yall taking about. mikes cap hit is like 21 mill next year. lmao not happening.
October 27th, 2020 at 4:21 am
Undoubtedly, the Bucs will have some tough choices to make come the offseason, seeing that the salary cap will almost certainly be lowered. But, I agree, there is NO WAY the Bucs will let Godwin hit free agency!
October 27th, 2020 at 5:14 am
Gotta pay this dude.
October 27th, 2020 at 6:33 am
LVD and Ungodly will be Bucs next year. JPP and Suh won’t we need to draft linemen for both offense and defense.
October 27th, 2020 at 8:40 am
Ira says, “If Brown thinks he’s going to come to Tampa and immediately supplant this tandem, he’s out of his route tree.” Just spit out my coffee laughing. Must clean monitor…
October 27th, 2020 at 12:47 pm
Not really a tough decision. Need to sign David and Godwin. This means we’ll have to part way with some high priced players ie Suh, Brate, Evans. I love Evans, but logic says trade him for 2 first rounders.
October 27th, 2020 at 1:58 pm
When(being positive) we win the SB this year and they see how special this team can be, I am willing everyone would be willing to work team friendly deals to stay. Multiple rings are more valuable to players then extra money if they are true winning driven players. This team build with the madden’ish feel amount of talent on this team is a once in a decade rarity that propels talented players to Canton, no driven player will want to leave that.
October 28th, 2020 at 2:21 am
Why is everyone talking about trading Evans?? Are yall crazy!! Hes gonna retire a buc and so LVD