The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a major decision to make over the course of the 2020 season and into next offseason, but it should be an easy one.
The NFL is an ever-changing landscape and the decisions of just one or two moves can be the difference between being contenders or pretenders: Just as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers made a major move this offseason when they brought in QB Tom Brady on a two-year, $50 million deal. The franchise followed that up by re-signing the key pieces along their front-seven and then made a trade for veteran TE Rob Gronkowski.
Now the Buccaneers- who were previously an afterthought- are considered one of the favorites to make it to the postseason.
You don’t remain on top for the moves you made yesterday, though. It’s always about looking forward to the future and the Buccaneers have a major decision on their hands as we progress through the rest of this offseason, into the season and then into next offseason.
WR Chris Godwin, who was selected by Tampa Bay in the third-round of the 2017 NFL Draft, will be due for a contract extension following this season. Godwin’s rookie contract was a 4-year deal worth $3.3 million, but he’ll be in line to make much more than that when his new deal is made.
Spotrac suggests that Godwin’s market value is estimated to be right at $16.8 million per year, and most Buccaneers fans would tend to agree. Some comparable players include Brandin Cooks ($16.2 million), Jarvis Landry ($15.1 million) and Stefon Diggs ($14.4 million).
I think we all can agree that Godwin is worth more than those three wide receivers.
In my opinion, Godwin has an opportunity to turn into one of the top five wide receivers in the league. He has learned a lot and developed over these past few seasons and it has certainly helped to have the mentor of Mike Evans.
But it’s time for him to make his money and it needs to be in Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers simply can’t afford to let a third-round gem escape their grasp. Winning organizations find ways to make deals with game-changing players and Godwin is exactly that. It won’t be easy and negotiations will be tough, but Tampa has to find a way to extend the talented wide receiver when it’s all said and done.