Chris Godwin Gives Off “Buc For Life Vibes”
November 17th, 2024
Sticking around?
The mouse outfit decided to rank the expected free agent class for 2025, and they claim Chris Godwin could be on the market.
Godwin’s contract expires at the end of this season. Of course, Godwin is on injured reserve and is expected to be out through at least the regular season.
Playoffs? Well, that’s another story.
BSPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, in looking at Godwin’s potential free agency, has a gut feeling Godwin isn’t going anywhere, despite how popular he would be in the free agency frenzy.
What we’re hearing: Assuming his recovery is on schedule, as expected, Godwin would increase his market value by actually testing it. Too many other teams need the production of a high-end receiver in his prime. But Godwin also gives off “Buc for life” vibes as a team cornerstone and leader who loves playing in Tampa Bay. Mike Evans’ reasonable contract ($20.5 million per year) leaves room to extend Godwin as a bookend playmaker.
This would be smart on the Bucs’ part. “This Joe” firmly believes the Bucs in the midst of a two-season window to make a Super Bowl run. Of course, the Bucs are on the cusp of urinating this season away.
In two years, look how much this roster will change. In 2026, Evans may not be here. Lavonte David likely will not be here. And the Bucs have the option on Baker Mayfield following the 2025 season. Jamel Dean has an out in his contract after this season. And Vita Vea will be 30 in less than three months (Vea has an out in his contract after this year but Joe can’t see the Bucs moving on from him).
By keeping Godwin, Joe believes the Bucs have more potential to do damage next year.
Just looking at how Bucs receivers not named Evans or Godwin have played this year, if the Bucs allow Godwin to leave, then at receiver for 2025 you have an aging Evans and who else exactly?
November 17th, 2024 at 8:14 am
Sign Godwin. The rook and 2nd-3rd year players have not stepped up.
November 17th, 2024 at 8:30 am
Bucs are no where near a two year Super Bowl window, especially with the Bowel movement at the helm. BUT, Godwin is a keeper, regardless. Fans need someone to cheer for even in the mediocre/ poor years. Kind of like James Wilder during the Culverhouse ere.
November 17th, 2024 at 8:42 am
Godwin annual salary rarely matches his production simply due to how physical he plays. He’s injured nearly every year, it’s hard to think he’s going to miss less games as he’s nearing 30. We’ll be paying even more for him on the next contract. At some point you have to let aging vets walk, look at OBJ….everyone keeps hoping he’ll recapture his old self but he can’t get on the field for more than a few weeks.
November 17th, 2024 at 9:21 am
I think other teams might be hesitant to sign him to a big contract coming of a season ending injury. Bucs might get hometown discount.
November 17th, 2024 at 9:25 am
The Bucs also owe Godwin @ $19M of dead cap space in 2025… Re-signing might allow them to push some of that money into later seasons.
November 17th, 2024 at 9:30 am
Definitely for re-signing Godwin. Thinking he will want to remain a Buc like Evans. True, things could look very different in 2026.
November 17th, 2024 at 9:30 am
The Bucs would be crazy not to resign him!!!. He is probably the most productive player on the team, no offense to Mike Evans, they make an incredible 1, 2 punch. He is imensely popular with the fan base, both on and off the field. He is like La Vonte David, the model guy whom you want the rest of your team to be like.
Finally, this year really has shown they have no one else anywhere near or like him for the in the wings for next year, absent som incredible draft pick. However, I believe the draft hopefully will focus on the defense due to huge holes where prior picks are failing.
Finally I think the fan base would go nuts.
Please Bucs do NOT LET Chris go anywhere
November 17th, 2024 at 9:34 am
Pay the man.
November 17th, 2024 at 9:42 am
So who here think that a coach like belichek is going to sign with a team that only has a 2 year run (1 year by the time he gets here) left with their top players? Wishful thinking.
It’s a Bucs life!
November 17th, 2024 at 10:04 am
I do. It’s exactly what he’s looking for. Belicick is interested in getting 17 more wins under his belt and he wants to coach a team that can do that in a couple of years. He would probably sign a 3 year contract with the third being an option.
November 17th, 2024 at 10:22 am
Read an article talking Bucs cap and how signing Godwin to a 3-$70 million deal would give us $5.5 million in cap relief next season. Almost enough to retain Lavonte if he will go one more.
Then sitting on roughly $25 million in cap space before any restructures. Hopefully that is the plan and then thru FA and draft we are loading up on DL, ILB, CB.
November 17th, 2024 at 11:17 am
Sign Godwin early. Licht is smart signing players early to lower cost contracts since he’s not playing the media like Jerry Jones and his late, expensive signings.
However, the Bucs don’t have a two year window with this defense. Even if Bowles is gone, no coach could bring this defensive roster to the SB. LVD will retire this year, Britt won’t improve much, and Dean rarely plays.
November 17th, 2024 at 11:17 am
Signing Godwin RIGHT NOW, would actually save them money.
November 17th, 2024 at 11:22 am
Resigning him will actually save cap space in 2025 too. Licht needs to find a couple WR’s, a couple LB’s, NT, Edge rusher, and CB in these next couple of drafts to replace these aging players. Tall order but I got confidence he can pull most of that off these next couple of years
November 17th, 2024 at 11:26 am
Also pass on BB unless Coen agrees to stay for a couple of years until BB retires. Even that is a risky move. We got the future and stability on offense for years to come with making Coen the HC in 2025. It’s been so refreshing to see a modernized offense. You don’t let young talented OC’s leave the building
November 17th, 2024 at 11:36 am
I love Godwin as much as the next Bucs fan, but I’m a little worried about paying him what it would probably take to sign him. First you have the injury history. Mainly that he wasn’t himself for a WHOLE SEASON after the last big injury. So all this 2 year window talk or 2/3 year contract talk, you can shave a year of effectiveness off of both of those. Next, what does the contract look like? He was playing himself in to a ~$30M per contract. I’m not sure the Bucs could justify that with all the other roster holes. Even now, do you give him $24M? More than ME13 who was already feeling underappreciated last offseason? Does some other desperate team offer more? A lot of uncertainty. But overall Licht & Greenberg have earned my trust in these situations.
November 17th, 2024 at 12:29 pm
This team has a two year super bowl window, with a head coach that could actually take advantage of it.
Bowles ain’t it.
November 17th, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Godwin’s dead-cap money makes it sensible to re-sign him. The Brady/Gronk credit card is finally getting laid down – but it’s still limiting our ability to buy elite defensive free agents.
Deciding to not participate in the pre-season free agent market, AND passing on the mid-season trade option – almost makes me feel like the Bucs brass may be ok with the losing that may come from an aging, injury-depleted, and under-manned defense. It would get them a better draft position than we’ve had these last 3 to 4 seasons…and we’ll have some additional cap space to add some defensive free agents next off-season.
I personally hope we go on that run, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t…
November 17th, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Algo must not like too many compliments of Godwin. Wow.
November 17th, 2024 at 5:04 pm
Godwin is getting old, plays physical, and has had two major injuries in recent years. I wouldn’t think he’ll get huge offers.
November 17th, 2024 at 6:00 pm
It’s not just Chris ability. It’s the chemistry with baker. Hard to replicate.