Report: Chris Godwin’s Plan Is To Test Open Market
March 10th, 2025
Deadline Wednesday.
The Bucs have until Wednesday afternoon to re-up franchise favorite Chris Godwin before he fully hits the free market.
Roughly two weeks ago, the Bucs and Godwin’s camp worked out a two-week extension to get him re-signed and avoid Tampa Bay a nasty salary cap hit. That just happens to coincide with the free agency dinner bell ringing on Wednesday.
To be clear: noon today starts legal tampering, where free agents verbally can agree to contracts. However, nothing is set in stone until Wednesday when the dinner bell rings. Illegal tampering began at the combine.
So will the Bucs get a deal done with Godwin? It seems Godwin’s agent planted a nugget into the lap of a friendly NFL reporter to suggest the Bucs better up the ante.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic twittered last night that Godwin’s goal (read: his agent’s goal) has always been to see what other teams may offer.
Joe understands why Godwin wants to see what is out there because this very likely could be his final big bite at the NFL salary apple. Godwin just turned 29. There aren’t a lot of 30+ year old receivers balling out in the NFL.
March 10th, 2025 at 12:47 am
Chris Godwin doesn’t feel valued by Bucs at this point,
and the Bucs haven’t helped matters in recent weeks.
Looking more and more like JL thinks he can draft a top tier Edge, WR, ILB, and CB to instantly make an impact this year lol.
March 10th, 2025 at 1:25 am
I love Chris. Truth is two major injuries to his legs, and the fact that he’s never been a truly number one receiver.
I say let Chris walk. If you sign a major pass rusher like The kid from Cincinnati.
Draft WR and CB 1 & 2. Them LB & DT.
March 10th, 2025 at 1:28 am
^there is zero evidence for any of this. ^
March 10th, 2025 at 1:53 am
Said it months ago, he will not return.
March 10th, 2025 at 2:02 am
In a perfect world if Godwin was fully healthy you’d have to get the deal done….but it took him a while to get going after the last injury and itll probably take him a while to get going after this one….
I say let Godwin test the market and let him get paid.
The Bucs can sign another FA WR for cheaper…that slot position is usually pretty plug and play unless your name is Russell Gage.
March 10th, 2025 at 3:20 am
If Godwin hits the FA market, someone else will sign him. Pair Chris with a top-notch QB, a speed-burner WR and a quality TE and that team will have a Top-10 passing attack reminescent of what our Bucs had when BA roamed the sidelines in 2020 & 2021.
I doubt that JL is willing to spend big $$$ on BOTH Godwin AND a veteran Edge. Given our other big $$$ contracts, that’s a lot to commit to. With Landry & Garrett both off the market now, our odds of signing a top-quality veteran Edge seem to be slimming.
Pro Football Network just publiched a piece titled ‘Buccaneers Predicted To Make Blockbuster Trade for Havoc-Wreaking Superstar Ahead of 2025 NFL Draft’ (March 9, 2025) indicating that the Bucs will trade during the draft for Trey Hendrickson AND draft Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams with its first-round selection. Pure speculation for sure, but an interesting scenario nonetheless.
March 10th, 2025 at 4:05 am
I think what people are missing is that if he signs elsewhere the Bucs will carry dead cap money so say goodbye to expensive free agents. His agent knows this as well so Godwin has leverage.
March 10th, 2025 at 4:57 am
Hope is a lousy strategy.
Unfortunately, it’s all any of us can do.
Sure, the siren song of the mighty greenback is a powerful charm.
But, only Chris knows how motivated by money he really is.
We still have a lot of things going in our favor.
Chris and Mike are super tight. Baker and Chris had clearly found their sweet spot before Chris got hurt last year. Josh Grizzard so far, isn’t talking about radically changing anything a la Dave Canales in 2023.
The Bucs as a whole are trending up and with a couple of good personnel moves on defense will be serous contenders for an SB. A lot of the teams that’ll be interested in Chris (all 31 of them) can’t say that.
Chris watched Mike and Baker both take team-friendly discounts to stay here. That will have some influence on his decision.
If Chris’ only motivation is money then he’s most likely gone.
I could be wrong about this, but I just don’t that’s the way he is.
I think the chances are just as good that he stays, as they are that he goes someplace else.
March 10th, 2025 at 5:31 am
My guess is that Godwin stays with the Bucs.
March 10th, 2025 at 5:42 am
Interesting. Dude has to do what’s right by him and his family. Ultimately it’s just a business, something I sometimes forget. Good luck to Chris.
March 10th, 2025 at 6:06 am
These agents sometimes floor me with the underhanded semi legal crap they pull.
Players need to be made aware of the market and be able to make informed decisions of course. Some of these guys go too far. Sure Godwin wants to know the market out there and his agent wants his cut but planting stories?
The media is often used to manipulate as in this case. These so called journalists are only interested in furthering their careers and thus will happily put anything out there to get the “scoop”.
This is one reason that there is talk of making some changes in how these agents operate.
Go Bucs!
March 10th, 2025 at 6:55 am
If Godwin hits the open market, his floor is $25M. The Bucs could probably sign him for the Evans deal. If Godwin leaves we need to get on the phone with the Rams. Kupp can be had for a day 3 pick. Kupp plays in a similar offense and he’s on a $17M per year contract. It’s a no brainer.
March 10th, 2025 at 7:04 am
The Bucs know if he can or even will be able to get on the field. They will not pay big money if he can’t play. If someone else wants to gamble let them.
March 10th, 2025 at 7:09 am
Hey guys I need a little help figuring out how these guys get paid.
In this case we’re talking about Chris Godwin.
Last year he went down in the 6th or 7th game of the year. ….
Question is, how much did he bring in after the injury? Was he guaranteed his full years pay (even though he only played a 3rd of the season, or did he for example only receive a third of his pay since he got hurt?
Also, isn’t that 2 out of the last three seasons that he was out for the year?
It seems that if he “did” get paid in full for those years that he should owe us a bit of a discount if we payed him in full twice in almost as many seasons… Doesn’t he…?
March 10th, 2025 at 7:40 am
I said it when he got hurt we won’t see him again. He is going to Jags or Vegas. Was never staying in Tampa. Remember just last season his wife throwing a tantrum. You don’t think that came from Godwin himself? He going with Coen or Brady for sure with a massive payday!
Licht is screwing the pooch this offseason. How in the world do you not sign Landry to such a small contract Pats got him for? THIS TEAM CANT DRAFT AND DEVELOP PASS RUSHERS! They need a proven guy. It’s been proven year after year after year. It’s a wasted draft pick that we can’t afford to do!!!
March 10th, 2025 at 7:45 am
I think the Bucs draft defense, Campbell?, first round, and receiver second round. That’s where they draft a Godwin clone. They will also move on from Sheppard, and bring in another vet with more rubber on the tires.
March 10th, 2025 at 8:00 am
50/50 on here about how people feel about Chris staying or going… $25M? Jesus, I was thinking somewhere between $15-$20M?
I don’t underestimate the dirty work Godwin does, and his value in Tampa, but any team willing to pay that much is a pseudo rebuild, and I can’t fault Chris if that’s what teams are offering. Additionally, they may move him to the outside in in order to preserve his career. Perhaps he wants to prove he’s a WR1. Been living in Evans shadow his entire career. JAX has cleared some cap to bring in someone like Chris in. I say good luck.
$20-25M could land us a nice edge rusher. Just something to chew on that we can’t do what we did last year, yeah, we signed our guys, but we didn’t move the needle on outside free agents. The difference between 2023 and 2024 was our 2024 draft picks significantly contributed to our success.
March 10th, 2025 at 8:26 am
Most obvious landing spot is Vegas, however Godwin’s worst season came in that offense under Canales. The offense favored by Pete Carroll has two WRs attacking outside and stretching field. Chris has thrived as a slot across the middle in short to mid yards in both the Arian’s and McVay/Coen attacks. Hope he gets plenty of the contract guaranteed.
I will deeply miss watching him on the Bucs if he does go.
March 10th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Money talks
Remember a few years ago when his wife was pissed , and so was CG , and went public ranting. That would not have happened unless there was grumbling under their roof.
This is his last contract and it will come down to the guaranteed MONEY.
CG has always been a fan favorite but has always been 2nd -3rd fiddle.
March 10th, 2025 at 8:34 am
Welp folks this is the end for Mr Godwin 😢 I’m really gonna miss him. Forever a baller
March 10th, 2025 at 8:39 am
When you guys project salaries what are you basing it on? Salaries are tied to a percentage of the cap. 4 years ago Christian Kirk got $17M a season. The cap has gone up 3 years in a row. Jefferson got $35M a year ago. Is Jefferson worth twice as much as Godwin. If you thought Godwin was going to sign for $17M you have no business making predictions. Adams just got $23M at 32 years old
March 10th, 2025 at 8:58 am
Chris wants to be wined and dined, he deserves it. Hopefully we bring him back.
March 10th, 2025 at 9:11 am
I think he’s gone. The market is set with Metcalf’s contract, then Adam’s’ . looking at 30/yr.
I love him but would rather trade a 1 for Hendrickson and pay him 30.
Go get a Lockett type guy.
March 10th, 2025 at 9:12 am
He stays in Tampa. Obvious he likes Baker and getting 7-8 catches a game.
March 10th, 2025 at 9:38 am
No worries. Chris will stay with us if he wants to. If not, best of luck. Sure hope he stays.
March 10th, 2025 at 9:59 am
The questions that Godwin needs to ask himself is who he wants throwing to him, whether it is better or worse to get paid more money but see less of it because e chose to go to a high tax hellhole like Taxachussetts, whether he wants to play in freezing cold temps, and who is more likely to get him another ring before he’s done playing.
New England seems to be the Bucs’ competition in this one, and (to me) it’s no contest.
March 10th, 2025 at 10:00 am
Let him walk and save the money for a proven edge rusher.
March 10th, 2025 at 10:06 am
Actually I think that the fact that Metcalf got about 30 million a year and that Adams got 23 in my mind suggests that 20 million dollars for Chris Godwin is a real possibility. He has had significant injury history and playing in Tampa he does get the tax benefit which would make a $20 million a year contract be similar to what Adams got who has not had the same injury issues and has had arguably more productive career.
Not to mention that if we don’t resign Chris we still get an 18 million dollar a year cap hit whereas by resigning him we can then restructure a contract that will spread that hit out over a number of years and thus could afford to actually pay him more than 20 with less of a cap hit this year.
For all we know it could be the Buccaneers head office saying go out and see what you can get in free agency and come back to us and we’ll make sure that we give you something that would leave you with a similar dollar amount in pocket.
As great as Chris is as a player and as a teammate. We are still talking about the receiver who has had two major injuries and has approaching 30. Some teams might be a little reluctant unless they are competing for a Super bowl in the next year or two to invest that kind of capital.
So unless he is given an offer he can’t refuse in Jacksonville, I do not see him going to a team like the Raiders or other bottom barrel teams.
March 10th, 2025 at 10:11 am
If he walks we are not saving money. He will leave $19 million in dead cap money. Sign him so you can spread out the damage or pay the piper.
March 10th, 2025 at 10:24 am
Sign Godwin, he will take less $ to stay in Tampa, but he will still want, and deserves, a raise. Sign a left guard and let Bredeson walk. Trade 3rd pick this year and 2nd next year for Hendrickson. Pray the Michigan CB falls to us at 19. Draft Danny Stutsman(LB) in the second round. I think he will be a star LB for years to come! Then grab another DB in the fourth and best available beyond that with any defensive category of interior OL. Worry about WR next year. Let’s go win it all right now!
March 10th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Great guy and will be missed- time to get younger and move his would be salary to sign defense positions needed. We were fine without him players stepped up and can still draft a 3-4 round receiver this year..
March 10th, 2025 at 10:45 am
Not sure it’s about the money. A couple million more a year doesn’t mean much to someone making 20+ a year. Or maybe it does?
March 10th, 2025 at 11:19 am
PLAYED!!!!
Licht got played. Everyone knows CG has four pursuers … Bucs, Raiders, Jags, and Panthers. CG’s Camp can create a bidding war. They worked Licht for the biggest offer they could and now they can take that offer to the other four. Whoever coughs up the most cash by the dinner bell wins. Good agent.
Expect 3 years $75M with $50M guaranteed.
March 10th, 2025 at 11:24 am
Let him walk, the offense played well without him, get a edge rusher draft another corner, LB and wr
March 10th, 2025 at 11:46 am
I think Godwin is outta here.
March 10th, 2025 at 11:56 am
“No brainer” is a good description of that comment.
Kupp is washed. He can’t stay on the field, much worse than Godwin. There’s a reason the Rams aren’t keeping him.
March 10th, 2025 at 11:57 am
Godwin maybe out of here but his cap hit will be here to stay what is like 18 mil oof.
March 10th, 2025 at 12:09 pm
“Obvious” to answer your question… My understanding is if a player is on the opening day roster, their salary is guaranteed for the season. They get paid every week of the regular season. They get paid whether they are playing or not.
I believe if they have a non-football injury (NFI designation), then they get a fraction of their salary instead. Which makes sense if they get injured messing around with fireworks (like JPP did years ago). But IMHO, it’s not fair if they tear a pec while lifting weights outside of the team facility.
March 10th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Resigned!