Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans are having a bit of déjà vu as free agency approaches. For the second straight year a top wide reciever, and fan favorite, is set to hit the open market and a deal to bring him back ahead of time doesn’t seem to be close.
Mike Evans was set to test free agency last year before agreeing to an extension to remain in Tampa Bay at the last minute. It truly came down to the wire, with Evans announcing the Friday before the legal tampering period began that he’d become a free agency only to have a deal done with the Bucs on Sunday.
That’s what fans are hoping plays out again, this time with Chris Godwin.
Godwin is not only set to become a free agent on Wednesday when the new league year begins, but when he does he’ll be a top target for just about every team. He was on pace to lead the NFL in key categories until a season-ending ankle injury washed that all away, but it didn’t cleanse interest in him next year and beyond.
Despite how dicey things have seemed based on outside noise, all internal signs have continued to point toward a deal getting done. Perhaps that’s being overly optimistic, though, as the first projected contract value for Godwin is even more expensive than the Buccaneers were expecting.
Chris Godwin is set to make at least $25 million AAV in free agency
So far the process in wondering if the Bucs can bring Godwin back has been based more on vibes than anything tangible. That changed on Friday, when NFL reporter Mike Giardi gave us what the expected value of Godwin’s annual salary could be and it’s a doozy.
Things can fluctuate between now and then, but it sounds like the Bucs will need to compete with offers in the $25 million range if they want to bring Godwin back.
Per league sources, Chris Godwin will be incredibly sought after, assuming he gets to free agency. Patriots expected to be the driver there. It's gonna cost more money than you would have thought (think in excess of $25 million per) despite the season-ending injury.
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) March 7, 2025
Tampa Bay’s biggest competition for Godwin will be a familiar face. Liam Coen and the Jaguars are expected to make a big move to try and land Godwin, which would reunite him with his offensive coordinator from last year and place him in a similar system.
Jacksonville has perhaps the only trump card that can be played against the Bucs in free agent negotiations. Tampa Bay is still a better landing spot in terms of Godwin being able to continue rehabbing his injury and stay in a place he’s called him his entire professional career, not to mention the chemistry he already has with Baker Mayfield and the offense. The Jaguars can offer a pretty close second to all of that, though, and sell Godwin on the upside of Trevor Lawrence, young standout Brian Thomas Jr., and the idea that he and Coen have unfinished business.
It’s a powerful sales pitch that will almost certainly be backed by an offer that the Buccaneers won’t be able to meet. Jacksonville cleared a ton of cap space while purging its roster in the lead up to the tampering period, clear signs that the Jags plan on making a move for Godwin.
There are other free agents they could go after, but Godwin makes too much sense as a top target. Jacksonville also isn’t the only team that will want Godwin or be able to throw gobs of money at him to try and make a deal happen.
A lot can happen between now and Godwin officially hitting the market, but while all signs have pointed toward a deal getting done the Bucs might want to expedite that process before it’s too late.
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