Chris Godwin No. 3
February 9th, 2022
Ranked!
The faint sounds of distant drums are a signal to the masses that the PFF tribe has spoken.
The tribe recently released its top-100 free agents. The free agency dinner bell rings on March 16, five weeks from today. That first day of free agency arrives after two days of state-sanctioned legal tampering between clubs, players and their agents.
What caught Joe’s attention quickly about this list is the tribe has Bucs receiver Chris Godwin as their No. 3 free agent.
3. WR CHRIS GODWIN, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Godwin and the Buccaneers were unable to come to an agreement on a multi-year deal after he was franchise-tagged last offseason, but that very well may work out in Godwin’s favor. A far more robust free-agent market is certain for the 2021 offseason, given the salary cap will resume growing instead of shrinking, and Godwin has been much healthier thus far in 2021.
Godwin has 82 receptions through Week 13, already besting his 2020 mark and challenging his previous career high (86). The drop issues that plagued him during the Buccaneers’ 2020 Super Bowl run appear to be no more, as his hand is now healthy and he’s once again operating as one of Tom Brady’s favorite targets in a high-powered passing attack.
Later in this breakdown of Godwin, they interestingly noted that while Godwin murders zone defenses, he does sometimes get jammed up in man coverage, which is why the tribe does not consider him a true No. 1 receiver (please don’t attack Joe for typing this, Joe is only the messenger and Joe has made it clear what a big fan he is of Godwin).
The tribe believes, largely due to his knee injury, Godwin likely will be had for some $17 million a year. If that is an accurate figure, the Bucs should have no issue re-signing Godwin. It seems Godwin’s salary, per Spotrac.com last year, was just a hair under $16 million.
Joe is convinced that the very first thing Godwin’s agent will want to know from Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht is, who will be Godwin’s quarterback this fall and beyond if he re-signs?
Joe doesn’t believe it’s a farce to suggest that the Bucs quarterback will directly affect Godwin’s revenue, as you know Godwin would have bonuses in his contract.
February 9th, 2022 at 2:27 pm
not bad for a 3rd round pick
February 9th, 2022 at 2:28 pm
It’s true, Godwin isn’t bad at man coverage, but he excels in zone coverage. He’s a good compliment to Evans, as Evans excels in man coverage rather than zone coverage.
The problem for Godwin is a possible opportunity for Tampa Bay. Godwin tore his ACL very late in the season. He will not be ready for action for (my guestimate) 9 months or so. Any team interested will know he won’t be able to work from training camp through the midpoint of next season. Athletes tend to bounce back strong after ACL surgery, though there are exceptions, and sometimes it takes time for the athlete to trust that post-surgical knee.
Why’s that an opportunity? Lop off a good portion of performance from that contract, at least in Year 1.
February 9th, 2022 at 2:33 pm
Interesting that PFF doesn’t mention his bionic knee. I am sure everyone one else knows it is surgically repaired and untested.
I might not be a big deal, sports surgery has progressed in leaps recently. It is still a question mark, one that might be bigger than who his QB will be (by the way, I think Trask will be above average on passing). Maybe the Bucs should let him test the market, maybe he will come back to their slightly smaller pay scale.
February 9th, 2022 at 2:42 pm
No to injured players. Lookit Howard.
February 9th, 2022 at 2:43 pm
Love me some Chris Godwin. But let’s be honest. He would be a low level WR1. The ACL hurts his stock. He has to know that this is the best place for him where he can play with Evans and for a coach who loves him and knows how to use him. I’m not saying he couldn’t be a great addition to other teams. I just feel like him staying a Buc at a reasonable price with extra incentives is a win/win.
February 9th, 2022 at 2:51 pm
LOL Guess the Bucs should get rid of Tristan Wirfs since he had a sprained ankle.
Godwin’s injury is a knee and players have recovered nicely in recent years with the same injury.
Howard had an Achilles injury which not only is a far different injury, it’s also a major injury and many athletes who suffer this are never the same. Probably at a higher percentage than knee injuries.
Really apples and oranges here.
February 9th, 2022 at 2:55 pm
I really don’t have a clue how the salary cap works. They say we are 20 million under, but you sign Godwin and 1 other player and you’re at 30 million before you begin????
February 9th, 2022 at 2:56 pm
If the first question Godwin ask after being offered a huge contract from the team that drafted him isn’t “When can I sign”…..let him test the market….
He played with Jameis & Jameis threw it to the other team’s guy….
February 9th, 2022 at 2:57 pm
The drop issues that plagued him during the Buccaneers’ 2020¨
——————————————————————————————- Isn´t this remark sort of exagerated?
The only IF here is his knee, and is a big IF…..
The rest stats and attitude speaks for itself……..
February 9th, 2022 at 2:59 pm
The reason they didn’t mention his knee injury is that it happened in Week 15. Seems like this was written last year, as they only provided stats through Week 13. Not that it changes the analysis. I think CG is a top 5 free agent, but seems the PFF tribe was a bit lazy and just pulled this out of moth balls without an update.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:00 pm
***BREAKING NEWS***
The Lions are interested in trying to lure Tom Brady out of retirement.
Beat Joe to it…..
February 9th, 2022 at 3:03 pm
So what do you want a gold medal?
February 9th, 2022 at 3:30 pm
PFF Tribe … “Godwin and the Buccaneers were unable to come to an agreement on a multi-year deal after he was franchise-tagged last offseason, but that very well may work out in Godwin’s favor.’
And that’s the reason I really dislike slapping the franchise tag on any player who we REALLY want to keep long-term. Now, with a more robust salary CAP, more teams will be in the Chris Godwin hunt. Plus if we’d signed him to say a 4-year contract last year, we could’ve spread that out over more years, and MAYBE saved enough salary CAP to buy a starter-quality CB or filled some other need.
Signing Chris should be a Bucs’ priority. We NEED someone to complement Mike Evans, and IMO Godwin is the perfect complement. Johnson, Grayson, Miller, Darden MAY develop into fine WRs, but none of them have yet shown that CONSISTENCY that Chris has.
February 9th, 2022 at 3:46 pm
$17M/yr seems like a low estimate….& I do not see Godwin coming back to the Bucs unless the FO has a Legit QB1 locked up before FA begins.
As such, I just hope that the Bucs gain a Comp pick for his departure….Then replace him in the draft with Romeo Doubs from Nevada. (who reminds me of Godwin coming out of Penn St…..Great routes, good speed, great hands…Solid #2 WR out the gate with potential to grow into a #1)
February 9th, 2022 at 4:03 pm
Can’t believe he fell to us in RD3… I was livid when we didn’t take him in the 2nd (Justin Evans) if I’m not mistaken
February 9th, 2022 at 4:04 pm
They Godwin and someone in the draft to be wr3 not one or the other.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:14 pm
Well Joe thats are whole cap money! Guess we could sign him for five years and spread it over ten years. That would be 8.5 mil a year for 10 years.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
Got to get another wide receiver other than Evans. Dardens a bust, Tyler J. is not much better and Miller is limited, Grayson who knows. I don’t care who you have under center Trask or anyone else hes not going to be very successful not to even mention tight ends.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:23 pm
Defense Rules
As you may recall, I was an advocate of signing Godwin to a longer term deal in his 4th year…..giving him a large raise on his rookie salary…..that would have been 2019…
Joe & others responded…..”Why pay Godwin more, we already have him under contract” Wanted money spent elsewhere.
Now….see where we are…..perhaps up the creek…
February 9th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Boo-hoo! I was hoping for another article on another has-been quarterback to lead the Bucs instead of Trask. Come on, Joe. Hey, how about Johnny Manziel? /s
February 9th, 2022 at 4:29 pm
Chris is a must.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:36 pm
If Grayson didn’t make the team last year….
Tyler Johnson didn’t do anything special.
Darden is a bust-move on.
Scotty is capable but fragile.
Cam Brate is our only TE.
Hope Perriman can go.
I wouldn’t mind drafting a good WR.
Licht and scouts have to work their magic. We need depth.
February 9th, 2022 at 4:48 pm
Evans, Godwin, Johnson, Miller, Perriman, Grayson, Darden
Evans, Draft Pick, Johnson, Miller Perriman Grayson, Darden
February 9th, 2022 at 6:37 pm
Sign him tomorrow, he’s a stud player and a great human.
February 9th, 2022 at 6:56 pm
Chris Godwin is more than a pass catching WR. He’s in the top three in yards after catch. He was tops in 1st down production. Excellent on the jet sweep. A great blocker at the line of scrimmage and down field. And most importantly, a tremendous person and leader. By the way, one of the main reasons TB came to Tampa…he and Mike Evans. Pay him. He’s worth it.
February 9th, 2022 at 7:06 pm
TBBF … Give Joe a break. With a little better luck we could’ve had Johnny Manzel.
February 9th, 2022 at 7:58 pm
Football Johnny is still available….
February 9th, 2022 at 11:33 pm
Pay Chris Godwin. He should be a career Buc.
February 10th, 2022 at 8:08 pm
Pay him. Give him back his old number when he comes back also.