Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin is one of the best at his position and is poised to be one of the top pass-catchers in NFL free agency once again. But even with the talent wideout recovering from a torn ACL, other clubs will face tough competition for his talents.
Coming off an 840-yard season in 2020, Godwin was set to hit the open market. But Tampa Bay applied the franchise tag to its No. 2 receiver, ensuring one of Tom Brady‘s go-to weapons didn’t leave. The decision paid off with Godwin delivering one of the best seasons in his career.
- Chris Godwin stats (2021): 98 receptions, 1,103 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns, 77.2% catch rate
Earning $15.98 million fully guaranteed in 2021, everything seemed to be going right for the 84th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. But after hauling in a catch over the middle, Godwin took a direct shot to his knee and suffered a torn ACL.
Despite the looming recovery from ACL surgery, ESPN”s Jeremy Fowler reports that Tampa Bay has “high interest” in re-signing Godwin. In the organization’s view, the 6-foot-1 receiver is the Lavonte David of their offense, providing toughness and the attitude they need on that side of the ball.
The Buccaneers could place the franchise tag on Godwin for the second consecutive year. If that happens, he would be fully guaranteed more than $19 million for the 2022 NFL season. It may also interest him, offering Godwin the opportunity to prove he is fully healthy before cashing in on a long-term deal in 2023.
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For now, the biggest question in Tampa Bay is Brady’s future. If he retires, the Buccaneers will need to re-evaluate everything this spring. But even if the future Hall of Famer departs, there is plenty of talent to compete for a playoff spot this fall.