Chris Godwin is an obvious option for the Buccaneers to focus on in free agency, but is he actually going to make the decision the fans want?
The thought of Chris Godwin walking in free agency is next to unimaginable for Buccaneers fans. While the team should have no question about wanting Godwin back for 2022 and beyond, is it time to wonder if his interests align with the Tampa’s?
Godwin is still one of the best free agents on the market, even with his injury. Every team in the league could use a player of Godwin’s caliber to boost their offense, and these teams have several things the Bucs don’t; cap space and talent.
The Bucs have some decent pieces on both sides of the ball, but no one in their right mind should see this team as a Super Bowl contender in 2022. In fact, the Buccaneers are only in payoff contention due to one of the weakest divisions in the sport. When you add in a tight salary cap situation, their ability to entice guys to stay is growing weaker by the second.
Regardless, Godwin’s best choice could realistically be to test out free agency, and if he does this, the Buccaneers lose out in a bidding war.
Godwin has serious ties to Tampa after playing and winning here over the years but he owes the city nothing. Should he choose to walk to win another ring or earn another payday, Buccaneers fans should have no ill will in their hearts.
Players are in the game for their own benefit. How the fans feel shouldn’t play into these decisions one iota. With all of this in mind in conjunction with the fact that Godwin could likely be playing with the worst quarterback of his career in Tampa in 2022, what real reason is there to stay outside of loyalty to the Bucs?
This may be a tough pill to swallow for Bucs fans, but given the recent losses, Godwin choosing elsewhere in free agency would not be a surprising decision.
The Buccaneers will still do everything in their power to keep one of their most important players at home for the future, but the decision comes down more to what Godwin wants. Hopefully he chooses to stay, but don’t expect this as a given.
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