Chris Godwin Confidence And Josh Jacobs Recruiting
February 7th, 2025
So listeners to yesterday’s new Ira Kaufman Podcast heard the star of the show say that he left One Buc Palace yesterday with a special feeling.
It had nothing to do with morning prunes or tennis elbow. Sage Ira said he departed team headquarters feeling even more confident that pending Bucs free agent receiver Chris Godwin would be on the Bucs’ 2025 roster.
Why, Ira?
Well, of course, Kaufman wasn’t spilling the entire truth. But Joe can attest to seeing Kaufman speaking to Bucs executives and he mysteriously stepped away early from the private media sitdown chat held with Joe and some local scribes and new Bucs playcaller Josh Grizzard.
Odd behavior, and Kaufman wasn’t exiting the building.
For many weeks, Kaufman has been saying he expects a return of Godwin barring something unforeseen, like an injury setback or a contender making Godwin a massive offer. So Joe had to take note of the heightened Kaufman confidence.
That brings Joe to all the endless chatter out of Green Bay and its hunger for receiver help this offseason.
Joe even listened to Packers running back Josh Jacobs talk to SiriusXM NFL Radio at the Pro Bowl and he mentioned recruiting for future teammates in Orlando, and specifically receivers.
It’s common thought that the Packers need a true No. 1 receiver, and Godwin has never filled that role in Tampa, plus he’s coming off ankle surgery.
So while Joe doesn’t think Green Bay will make a play for Godwin, though Joe won’t sleep 100 percent peacefully until the Bucs settle their receiver position. Between Godwin and fellow pending free agent receiver Sterling Shepard, they hauled in 82 catches last season for 900-plus yards and 6 touchdowns.
That’s significant production potentially requiring replacement.
February 7th, 2025 at 10:15 am
Godwin’s injury was severe.
The very first thing that the Bucs have to determine is if he can get back to 100% or will his abilities be somewhat diminished.
Can’t put the cart before the horse here
February 7th, 2025 at 10:15 am
Have to think the idea of the pony formation, with ME and JMAC out wide and CG in the slot is a nightmare scenario for a DC. It’s established that Licht is always going to “keep the core intact”, and should.
February 7th, 2025 at 10:34 am
Chris will be his old self he’s built like that i hope he stays and retires a buc
February 7th, 2025 at 10:52 am
Shepard and Godwin are not going anywhere. Both injury prone and not worthy of TOP $$$ in FA. We are fine with bringing them back with McMillan and Evans and we are good. Now about that 29th ranked Pass Defense….
February 7th, 2025 at 10:55 am
If you really want to compete for a Superbowl the next year-3 you want Chris Godwin on the team…
February 7th, 2025 at 11:41 am
Godwin is injury prone and while I hope the Bucs can bring him back, it shouldn’t be at the expense of getting a good veteran Edge or a CB in FA. Defense needs to be the focus this year.
February 7th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
Certainly Godwin should be back with a team friendly, incentive-laden contract. If he’s healthy he gets paid.
I’m not a fan of Shepard, he started out OK but his drops and poor behavior seemed to increase as the season went on. He also had some crazy poor penalties.
February 7th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
I really hope they find a way to keep him,he was playing the best ball of his career,he was crushing it for my fantasy team…
February 7th, 2025 at 12:29 pm
Offense was running just fine without him. Defensive side is where the money needs to go. We bolstered the line now we need to address linebacker and CB. Offense was humming and we have a key part of last year’s OC team running the offense now. I feel like Bowles needs someone to bounce ideas off and I’m sure he has it. Let’s hope we don’t crap the bed
February 7th, 2025 at 12:41 pm
resign godwin. priority #1. trade what it takes to get garrett. that convinces lavonte to come back. trade white or dean if u can. draft all defense and go get darius slayton for the low. welcome to the nfc championship…
February 7th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
Keep Godwin if we can for sure but what are we talking about ,,, I believe we get Garrett and we go to Super Bowl,,, he’s a game wrecker
February 7th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Godwin gets taken out by two illegal tackles and somehow he’s injury prone…
February 7th, 2025 at 2:05 pm
Exactly JustOneGame.
I don’t know where this injury prone narrative came from. He missed significant time from 2 major injuries that were just unlucky/dirty tackles and could have happened to any player in the NFL.
The guy isn’t missing 5 games a year cause of soft tissue pulls.
This is great news and will be very happy to have Godwin back.
February 7th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
Roquan Smith should miss as much time as Godwin for the dirty hip drop tackle he used on Chris.
February 7th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
I would drop Godwin in a heartbeat if it means the bucs get Myles Garrett and not think twice about it. I love Godwin but the offense was fine without him the defense has been struggling without a true dominant edge rusher.
February 7th, 2025 at 2:28 pm
The bucs had a top five offense without Godwin they were giving defensive coordinators headaches without him. Not much sleep was loss thinking about facing the bucs defense.
February 7th, 2025 at 2:29 pm
From what I understand we actually SAVE money under the cap by resigning Chris due to all the dead money we have pushed back on him. If he resigns we can spread that out over 2 or 3 seasons rather than it all accelerating to this season. It’s a no brainer IMO.
February 7th, 2025 at 2:36 pm
Well, either Godwin is another Alvin Harper (great #2) and some team throws (pun intended) stupid $$ at him to find out
Or ….
He’s a legit #1 and the bucs have a seriously good problem on their hands at WR next year (assuming healthy all year in thr whole WR room) if they can keep him.
February 7th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
Chris was on pace through 7 games to earn himself a multi year $25M or more contract next year…
So this injury was not only unfortunate from the standpoint that the Bucs might just be playing this Sunday if Chris hadn’t suffered that horrific injury (or at least finished the season as better than one and done in the playoffs…) – it also sucks for Godwin personally beyond the pain and suffering and the grind of a long rehab…. It will absolutely hurt him financially… probably to the tune of $15 or $20M total dollars.
It is what it is though – and the Bucs of course cannot pay more for a player in Godwin’s circumstance than what he is presumably worth on the “open market”.
I’m thinking 3 years for $50M total – $20M guaranteed – with a slew of easy and hard to earn incentives thrown in on top that can be worth up to $4 or $5M per year. This offer of course would be contingent on knowing that Chris is progressing well through his rehab and would be expected to be ready to play come August or so….
Godwin has earned just shy of $80M so far in his career from the Buccaneers – so that guarantee alone would put him at/over $100M in earnings for his career. Not too shabby for a 3rd rd draftee out of Penn State.
He’s earned every penny IMO btw….
February 7th, 2025 at 2:49 pm
Godwin must be a Buc for life. It must be done. He was having his best season. Injured by an illegal hit by a dirty player who has his coming to him. Roquan should wake up one morning with a dead raven in his bed wearing #14. Bastage.
February 7th, 2025 at 3:11 pm
Chris is good but I think Sheppard gets a little wound up, in a not so good way. AB let’s get naked on the way off the field, walking off on the team and all. Man Chris has put it all out there for a little while now, so we need him because when some freeze up in a big game he doesn’t and has a ring to prove it.. Let’s Go!!!
February 7th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
My Garrett Bucs Super Bpwl comment is not exclusive to TB ,,, I would say the same about any of these teams getting Garrett,, Bills, Houston, Lions, Washington, Rams, Chargers ,,,, the guy changed and won a few games himself for Cleve,,,, The teams that need to be off limits are Philly , KC and god forbid ATL
February 7th, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Chris Godwin gives us the best chance to win. Good size, catches everything thrown at him, fast, toughness, can and will gain yardage after reception, he can and will block and is proven, PLEASE KEEP HIM!!!!!
February 7th, 2025 at 5:31 pm
If the offense was running just fine without Godwin, my bet is he wouldn’t have fumbled that jet sweep and we’d still be playing in February if Godwin doesn’t get injured. That was a huge blow to the team. Also I know Godwin has been injured in his career but I wouldn’t go as far as saying he’s injury prone. Dude just goes 100% all out on every play, every block, every route CG is putting his nose to the grindstone. Great player and we need him back. My favorite buccaneer since Alstott
February 7th, 2025 at 5:32 pm
He might have the best hands in the game right now
February 7th, 2025 at 5:33 pm
Pay Chris Godwin. Make him a Buc for life. This team needs the best men. He also happens to be the best WR on the team. And I love Evans.
February 7th, 2025 at 5:51 pm
Will Chris be himself again after this latest injury.
That seems to be the elephant in the room. It was 2 seasons before he felt like himself again after his previous injury.
How much harder, or easier, it’s it to come back to 90-100% after a dislocated ankle vs an acl or Achilles ?
Great dude, fantastic receiver, hoping he heals up completely and stays with the krewe 🙏🏼🤞🏼💪🏼
February 7th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
3 years 50 mil, pretty fair fir both sides. Would have been 75 mil without the injury. Maybe more. Chris is a true pro I hope he can and will come back. Buc for life like Mike.
February 7th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
Pickgrin
As always great analysis. From a football/business standpoint you are spot on. From a risk for the Bucs again correct.
So I’m not disagreeing at all just foisting a wild eye possibility to give Rod some more ammo to make fun of my naivete.
So CG14 made 60 MILLION his last contract. He and his wife both appear to be very intelligent in all the interviews I’ve seen of them, which admittedly is not many. For whatever reason I’ve been impressed with them as a couple for a long time.
I think they have smarts, character, and a great set of values. Perhaps being set for life, money will not be the determining factor. I do not “judge” any player for going for the gold even when clearly they do not need it. It’s America and greed is good..so they say.
I was born poor white trash with a 7th grade dropout father mom made it to 10.
I have such a DIFFERENT set of values in terms of what is imporant in life..hint NOT MONEY, that after 77 years I’m just a dinosaur when it comes to values.
Having said that I do not give up on EVERYONE. I still want to believe that a MAN of CG14’s caliber along with his wife, will not try to rip off the Bucs even if they can. If he’s not full speed I think he’ll be honest.
I also think that just like Brady in New England CG14 will give the Bucs the hometown discount and would really look forward to playing in what is a very successful offense.
My only questions are is he ready to go. If he’s not I think he’ll be honest. People can now take their shots at me for being a sucker…in fact a person once called me a sucker….oh wrong blog.
February 7th, 2025 at 8:44 pm
“Ira knows more than he’s letting on”.
That’s what went through my mind when I heard him talking about Chris on the podcast.
I think Chris will stay… even if he’s offered more elsewhere.
Unless, of course, it’s some insanely outrageous amount of money. But even then, I’d still lean in the direction of him staying.
Chris and Mike are very tight.
Mike mentored Chris and Chris has paid him back by mentoring younger players, as well. And by becoming an outstanding receiver in his own right.
Plus, Mike will be here next year.
And…
Chris and Baker obviously have a connection. Look at the season Chris was having before he got injured.
I think he takes a team-friendly deal that has a lot of incentives, as others have said.
Make it happen, Jason!!
February 7th, 2025 at 9:51 pm
Already been said, work it. Defense is where we need it.
February 7th, 2025 at 11:06 pm
Talk about leaving em wanting more!
Ira is confident Yay!
Go Bucs!