Just weeks away from free agency, one of the league’s most reliable playmakers finds himself in an unexpected predicament. Once seen as a cornerstone of his team’s offense, there is doubts about his, his value questioned, and his next move uncertain. A devastating injury has made things uncertain, and with front-office hesitation growing, the contract he once seemed destined for may no longer be within reach. As the clock ticks.
Joe always believes that good players in the NFL deserve to be rewarded simply because they are good people. And few embody that more than Chris Godwin, a true professional. That’s why his injury against the Ravens last season was so disappointing—not just because it sidelined him, but because it likely cost him millions of dollars.
Godwin could become a free agent as soon as March 12, and the outlook from Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles hasn’t been encouraging. Ideally, the team would have secured his future by now, but concerns over his injury seem to have made them hesitant. Despite their admiration for Godwin, the Bucs appear reluctant to commit a significant amount of money to a player with health concerns.
Joe understands their caution.
During the NFL Combine, an executive shared off the record that Godwin is expected to sign for significantly less than the $20 million per year that some analysts had projected. Reports from national outlets have suggested a high-market deal, but Joe was told that won’t happen due to Godwin’s age (29) and his history of two major injuries in the past four seasons.
Matt Lombardo, a former beat reporter covering the Giants and Eagles, supports this assessment. He cited an anonymous agent who claimed Godwin wouldn’t even land a $15 million per year contract, let alone $20 million.
In his column Between the Hashmarks, Lombardo noted that another agent compared Godwin’s potential contract to DeAndre Hopkins’ two-year, $26 million deal. For a Buccaneers team with tight cap space and emerging young receivers behind Mike Evans, even that may be too expensive, despite Licht’s high regard for Godwin.
That puts Godwin’s potential annual salary closer to $13 million—a steep drop from the rumored $20 million. If he signs a two-year deal, the injury may have cost him roughly $14 million.
Another agent predicted that Godwin might opt for a short-term, “prove-it” contract—possibly with another team—to show that his ankle is fully healed and that he can still perform at an elite level without injury concerns.
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