Among the many things the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to address this offseason, figuring out what to do with Chris Godwin ranks pretty high on the list. It seems obvious what should happen, as there's no reason the team should let their Pro Bowl wide receiver out the door, but right now Godwin's future is totally up in the air.
He's set to become a free agent when the new league year begins in March, and the Bucs have already decided they won't be using the franchise tag on him to extend the negotiating deadline. Godwin has already been tagged twice, so placing it on him a third time would add unnecessary pressure to an already tense situation.
It might be that the tension is assumed, rather than actually present. Bucs fans went through a similar situation last offseason with Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans, and both of those situations turned out well in the end. A lot can stil happen but it's starting to sound like Godwin's situation will end up much in the same way as his teammates.
Chris Godwin returning to the Buccaneers in 2025 makes more sense than it ever has
One major factor present with Godwin that we didn't see with Baker or Evans is injury. Godwin suffered a season-ending ankle injury in October, something that might impact his value on the market.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell dug into some of the top wide receiver's situations this offseason, from a potential Tyreek Hill trade to Davante Adams being a cut candidate. In that list he mentioned Godwin, and made a pretty good point that suggests the Buccaneers have the inside track to re-signing him in free agency.
"There's a significant level of uncertainty surrounding what his market will look like, in part because it'll be determined by the wideout's medicals," Barnwell wrote. "He might want to lean on a familiar face on a prove-it deal in the hopes of landing something more significant next offseason."
There's nothing concrete in there as far as a report, but the vibes are right. All along, signs have pointed toward Godwin returning to Tampa Bay despite his free agent status this offseason. Earlier this offseason it was reported that he'd be testing the market but every step of the way something has happened to suggest things will work out well in the end.
Jenna Laine noted that the Bucs will do all they can to re-sign Godwin, and not long after that, Greg Auman reported that the two sides had mutually agreed to extend a key deadline in the process. That deadline involved when Godwin's contract would void, and the fact that he agreed to move it back to help potentially save some dead cap space is the biggest indicator yet that a deal will get done.
A lot can still happen, and there will be interest in Godwin in free agency despite his injury. Carolina, Jacksonville, and Las Vegas all make sense as potential destinations but if he's going to try the prove-it route then Tampa Bay is an even better option than it already was. What better place to run things back and earn a bigger contract next year than with the Buccaneers, rather than going to a new team and having to essentially start over, even if there's a familiar face like Canales or Coen there?
Godwin leaving the Bucs will be on the table until it isn't, but so is the idea of him returning. Right now, it feels like the latter is looking like the outcome we will end up seeing.
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