Among the many things the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to figure out this offseason, finding a way to bring back Chris Godwin is pretty high on the list. He might have had his season shortened by injury back in October, but Godwin was on pace to be not only the most productive reciever on the Bucs' roster but in the entire league.
That's the status he carries with him into free agency, which might outweigh the injury tag and convince teams he's worth overpaying for. Had he not suffered that ankle injury, Godwin would be a slam dunk as the top free agent about to hit the market and it's a testament to his talent that even with the injury he's still in the Top 5.
Tampa Bay was already going to have a stiff competition to re-sign Godwin, but the departure of Liam Coen significantly complicates things. Coen very infamously left to become the Jaguars head coach and ever since then it hasn't been hard to connect dots that lead to Jacksonville making a play for Godwin in free agency.
If it wasn't already obvious, the Jags pulled off a trade that pretty much shows their cards in regards to how serious they are about signing Godwin.
Jaguars pull off a trade that makes it clear they're trying to steal Chris Godwin in free agency
Just days before free agency is set to open, and even sooner the tampering window, Jacksonville traded wide receiver Christian Kirk to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round draft pick. What seems like a low-wattage move to save money to some is a pretty clear shot across the bow to Buccaneers fans.
Godwin being a top target for the Jaguars always made sense once Coen arrived there, and this move clears a path for that to happen. Kirk battled injuries over the last two seasons but was the starting slot receiver when healthy and looked pretty good when that was the case.
What looked even better for the Jaguars was rookie Brian Thomas Jr., who is the clear WR1 for Coen and quarterback Trevor Lawerence. Gabe Davis is under contract for another season but trading Kirk vacates a spot that Godwin very obviously fills.
Jacksonville has been Tampa Bay's biggest threat in losing Godwin this offseason, and any hope that they might not pursue him went out the window after this trade. The Bucs still have the inside track, though, as no matter how familiar Godwin is with Coen's offense his roots are deeper than that with Tampa Bay.
Godwin has made it known he loves playing for the Bucs, and the feeling is mutual. out of necessity—he'd been tagged twice, and moving void dates officially took that option off the board—but it has said it will do everything in its power to bring him back.
We all went through something similar last season with Mike Evans; it appeared the nightmare scenario of him leaving Tampa Bay was going to happen right up until it didn't. All signs still point toward the Bucs and Godwin figuring something out, and perhaps this move by the Jaguars will motivate them to get a deal done before Monday.
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