Ankle Injury Likely Cost Chris Godwin Many Millions
March 5th, 2025
Lower salary estimates.
Joe always hopes good guys in the NFL are rewarded. Because they are good guys.
And there are few better than Chris Godwin, a true class act. So it sucked when he got injured against the Crows last year. It sucked even more because it appears that injury likely cost Godwin millions of dollars.
It’s very possible Godwin will be a free agent a week from today, March 12. The vibe Joe got from Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles was not reassuring.
In a perfect world, Godwin would be locked up by next week, but that injury seems to have the Bucs spooked. They don’t want to drop a ton of Team Glazer loot on a guy who is damaged goods, no matter how much they like and respect Godwin.
Joe totally understands that.
Now at the combine, Joe spoke off the record with an NFL suit who said Godwin would be signed by someone for a good chunk less than what people in the Fourth Estate have estimated.
Joe has seen $20 million a year or more tossed out by national NFL stenographers. Joe was told that won’t happen. It’s a combination of Godwin’s age (29) and two major injuries the past four seasons.
Well, Matt Lombardo, a former Giants and Eagles beat guy, seems to back up Joe’s source. Lombardo has intel from an unnamed agent claiming Godwin won’t even sign for $15 million, forget $20 million.
This is what Lombardo typed on his site, “Between the Hashmarks.”
A second agent suggests Godwin could be in line for a deal in the neighborhood of DeAndre Hopkins’ two-year deal worth $26 million, and that for the Buccaneers, who have limited cap space and some emerging young receivers behind Mike Evans, that could wind up too rich even for as much as Licht appreciates and values Godwin.
So, $13 million a year? That’s quite farther south than $20 million. Let’s say Godwin signs a two-year deal; that’s some $14 million that injury cost Godwin. Ouch!
Another agent Lombardo spoke to predicted Godwin would sign a prove-it contract (maybe not with the Bucs) to demonstrate his ankle is fine and he can still play high-level, injury-free ball.
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March 5th, 2025 at 3:51 am
So sad for Chris.
Roquan Smith didn’t need to do him like that.
Poor Chris.
I think he will need the whole season to rehab. He won’t be ready until Week 8.
March 5th, 2025 at 4:14 am
Matt Lombardo … ‘A second agent suggests Godwin could be in line for a deal in the neighborhood of DeAndre Hopkins’ two-year deal worth $26 million, and that for the Buccaneers, who have limited cap space and some emerging young receivers behind Mike Evans, that could wind up too rich even for as much as Licht appreciates and values Godwin.’
Seriously? $13 mil per year for 2 years at the peak of his career? That’s BS and it’s an insult. Chris is infinitely better than that.
Godwin is the perfect Buc, and if JL lets him escape I’ll lose a lot of respect for his negotiating skills. There are a LOT of ways to build contracts with a respectable base salary PLUS incentives. Spotrac shows Chris’ Market Value at $22.5 mil … based on a 3-year, $67.6 mil contract. It may not be THAT high in actuality, but let’s say that it’s $20 mil per year average. Bucs could certainly write a 3-year contract for say $15 mil a year plus $5 mil per year in reasonable incentives. And of course make it contingent on him passing a physical (of the Bucs’ design) to show that his ankle is now OK.
Godwin & Evans go together. Lose either one for a season and we lose a LOT of production. Chris has been hurt TWICE now because of how WE used him (totally vulnerable both times). Was never hurt in his first 2 years (2017 & 2018); it wasn’t until BA moved him to slot that he got creamed. Slot receivers are vulnerable.
March 5th, 2025 at 5:11 am
Never will forget the horror when Chris got hurt. And we all felt it on here on the open thread during the game. An illegal tackle by Roquan Smith. The dirty play could end Chris career now. Pretty sad.
March 5th, 2025 at 6:10 am
To add insult to injury, the NFL waived the fine for Smith and said it was legal.
March 5th, 2025 at 6:25 am
Leopold – Sadly the NFL did just that. Thank you for that waived reminder. It was a dirty play and we all saw it. Feel bad for Chris.
March 5th, 2025 at 7:05 am
Love ya Chris but because of what was described above TAKE the BEST deal on the table.
March 5th, 2025 at 7:09 am
What DR said. Incentives can mitigate the Bucs risk. Just have to overcome emotions of “having earned” more guaranteed money, if there are any. Chris deserves for his team to give him a chance to make elite compensation. I said that the day after his horrific injury.
In summary, the Bucs lay out a contract that gives the opportunity of hitting $20M or more. Then Chris gets to decide if he wants to continue his spectacular career as a Buc. Hoping it happens as this will be another reason that elite talent will want to play for Todd and Jason.
March 5th, 2025 at 7:24 am
LOTS of contingent clauses in the contract.
Does ANYone know his rehab status?
March 5th, 2025 at 7:36 am
Bucs are on the hook for 18 mil dead cap on Chris. So they will sign him on a 2 year deal so they can spread out the new cap it. A one year prove it doesn’t get any relief for the 18 mil. Look for 2 year 28 mil with 18 guaranteed spread over 2 years.
March 5th, 2025 at 7:39 am
But there was so much “reporting” from Bucs “news” insiders that the Bucs coaches were confident that Chris ankle injury wasn’t serious. So much for that.
Face facts, this is his 2nd season ending injury in 3 years. He’s older and who knows how he’ll heal and what type of player he’ll be. Chris might not even know. It’s easy to spend someone else’s money but there’s a lot of risk giving an often injured player lots of money. Remember Russell Gage?
Gotta let this play out.
March 5th, 2025 at 7:58 am
He’s done, folks. Bucs would be fools to sign him.
March 5th, 2025 at 8:16 am
I’d bet on Chris.
March 5th, 2025 at 8:24 am
3 years – $50M – $20M Guaranteed – with an array of performance and availability related incentives worth $4-5M per year.
That’s fair to both sides based on circumstances.
If Godwin hadn’t gotten hurt – he likely would not be wearing a Bucs uniform in 2025 because through 7 games last year, Chris was playing his way into a $25+M per multi year deal that the Bucs would not have been able afford.
March 5th, 2025 at 8:45 am
It speaks to the insanity of NFL contracts that a player would be “insulted” with a $13Million/year contract for a part time job. I like Godwin as well as any Buc, including Mayfield, but let’s remember who ultimately pays these guys salaries—the fans.
March 5th, 2025 at 8:50 am
Godwin is by far one of my favorites. One of the true tough-as-nails WRs in the NFL and there is nothing more I’d like to have him retire a Buccaneer. This is a business though just like every one of us in the real world. Please keep in mind that the Bucs have already paid Godwin around $100 million so he’s doing pretty well no matter what.
March 5th, 2025 at 9:23 am
TV deal pays the players!! Your cheap Buccaneer ticket in the nose bleed seats don’t scratch the surface of player salaries 😎💰
March 5th, 2025 at 9:35 am
Lost on a game that was well out of hand. At least Lil’ B got an extra 250 passing yards and a couple more TD’s. That quarter went a long way to him getting his extra cash. Coaching staff and players were spared the embarrassment of getting blown out on national TV too. That game was a total Shat Show and now Godwin gets that end of the stick. Great Organization.
March 5th, 2025 at 9:38 am
‘The CG ankle injury likely cost him millions’
No Kidding.
March 5th, 2025 at 10:00 am
I guess Algo didn’t like my take on Roquan Smith.
Trying it differently. Karma. He’ll get what he deserves at some point.
March 5th, 2025 at 10:01 am
If there is serious doubt about Godwin’s ankle recovery they be looking at receivers on day 3
March 5th, 2025 at 10:33 am
He has no leverage
I said day one if he’s smart stays here 2 year deal signing bonus incentives
He go somewhere else more taxes lol
March 5th, 2025 at 10:36 am
RBUC Says:
March 5th, 2025 at 9:23 am
TV deal pays the players!! Your cheap Buccaneer ticket in the nose bleed seats don’t scratch the surface of player salaries 😎💰
=======================================Ultimately it is the fans that pay. Here is the logic. TV deals are made because the networks sell advertisements for products that fans buy. If there isn’t any advertising for any TV show including sports, the networks wouldn’t pay the outrageous sums they do for sports programming. Few things in this world are “free.”
March 5th, 2025 at 11:10 am
Getting slapped with the ‘injury prone’ tag is a sad reality in sports. Many times it’s undeserved and many times GMs use it to bargain a player down when they know it’s not true and only a perception. It happened to Gronk but the Patriots (and the Bucs) realized that a beast like Gronk who takes 5 or 6 hits on practically every catch because he doesn’t fold like a lawn chair when a little DB hits him (i.e. Travis Kelce) you’re gonna take some shots to the knees.
Chris is a tough guy and a warrior like Gronk. It’s not like he’s out there pulling a hammy every other week. He’ll bounce back and it might take a while, but he shouldn’t let anyone low-ball him.
March 5th, 2025 at 11:14 am
I said it before and I’ll say it again, players like (Roquan Smith) drop hip tackle on Godwin’s second injury and (P.J. Williams) illegal low hit knee targeting Godwin’s knee in 2022 Saints game the NFL needs to dock pay and games equal to injured players game time and money loss for these players who injure another player with illegal hits! It’s a damn shame this is always one sided this should be fixed and in my opinion this will significantly reduce these hit or hopefully stop them!
March 5th, 2025 at 11:15 am
Don’t the owners all profit share? Specifically, I thought around 30% of ticket sales for the visiting team goes to the home team.
This way owner A in huge market that sells out every weekend doesn’t have a monetary advantage over owner B in a small market? Kinda makes the whole ticket sales a moot point.
March 5th, 2025 at 11:24 am
Spin it however U like but some fans buy how Jason Licht is SOOO conservative not wanting to put the Bucs future at risk I don’t totally buy it thou. Bucs can afford ANY player they WANT and I think some of Lichts decisions are about control over the roster scared to spend money on FA veterans cause he has more control over rookies!! THE NFL HAS PROFIT SHARING meaning when big market franchises see exceptional profits small market teams like the Bucs see profit also and REGARDLESS of if the Bucs sellout games or not the Glazers see millions in profit EVERY year!!! Go build a Superbowl caliber team Mr Licht without the NFL wanting Brady to have 1 more ring than Michael Jordan and pay players what they are worth cause the Bucs can afford it!!!!!
March 5th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Always loved godwin, he plays very hard without question. Tough as nails. But injury prone. 20m a year is steep. They need pass rush desperately spend that money elsewhere
March 5th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
I think all true fans love Chris, but the NFL is a business and any contract has to make sense for both sides. The Bucs know better than the rest of the league how Chris is progressing from that awful injury, and he probably still has a long way to go to get back on the field. So sad.
March 5th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
The real question not being reported right now is will he be able to run, cut and take hits to his lower leg? If he is still in a long rehab why would any team sign him for big money. Normal ankle injuries can heal but when your ankle is surgically repaired it may take 15 months before you can get out there and run around and twist it around. Any orthopedic surgeon’s out there that can comment on his specific rehab and possibility to be an NFL receiver?
March 5th, 2025 at 9:20 pm
Imagine having to live on only 18-20 million a year. Oh the humanity.
March 6th, 2025 at 3:59 am
Gee Ya Think?
He was gonna have an All Pro year. The talking heads amaze yet again…
Go Bucs!