Chris Godwin should be among the best free agent wideouts this offseason, but a franchise tag would prevent the Buccaneers receiver from truly testing his market. While the franchise tag often leads to hostility between teams and their star players, it doesn’t sound like Godwin is all that concerned about that route.
“Yeah, I mean, the way I look at it, similar to like a lot of guys,” Godwin said to MJ Acosta of NFL.com (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com). “Obviously, we all want to have long-term security; we all want to be able to take care of the people that we love. So that’s the ideal situation. But, you know, a franchise tag is not something that I can control. If that’s what keeps me here, then that’s what it is. And I’ll play on it and go back to war with my guys. Like I said, I love it here in in Tampa. I love what we have building, and I would love to stay.”
If the Buccaneers do ultimately slap Godwin with the franchise tag, he’ll still see a considerable pay raise from his 2020 salary. After making $4.65MM in the final year of his rookie pact, he’d earn more than $16MM via the wide receiver franchise tag in 2021.
Godwin also discussed his impending free agency earlier this week. While he noted that the “goal obviously is to get paid,” he also acknowledged that he doesn’t want to put himself in a situation where he’s miserable.
The former third-rounder was a revelation in 2019, finishing the season with 86 receptions for 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns, leading to his first Pro Bowl nod. Despite Tom Brady passing him the ball in 2020, a reloaded offense resulted in decreased numbers for Godwin this past season. The 24-year-old ultimately finished the campaign with 65 catches for 840 yards and seven scores in 12 games. In four playoff games, Godwin caught another 16 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown.
The Buccaneers certainly aren’t strangers to the franchise tag; they used the tag on Shaquil Barrett last offseason. Instead of tagging Godwin, there’s a chance the organization could slap Barrett for a second-straight season, as Williams notes.
“…we all want to be able to take care of the people that we love.”
Most folks can do that with $16 million.
Exactly most of us could have long term security with $16 million.
Latrell Sprewell has entered the chat
That made me spit my coffee laughing!
Nice to see someone not looking to reset the market
Godwin is a great kid who has his head on straight. No diva at all.
Well he hasn’t gotten paid yet.
Good player. Not worth franchise player money.
Maybe not but the fact is if he reaches FA he will get that. More in fact. So if they want to keep him around there’s no other alternative. When Godwin is healthy he’s an outstanding number 2 to evans. He had some dropitis during the latter part of the season and in the playoffs but that had to be a mental thing as he never had an issue prior to that. With the emergence of Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson, tagging Godwin and letting Brown walk makes sense. Go try to win another one then reassess Godwin next offseason.
This whole “I want to take care of my family” shenanigans has got to stop. I’m tired of the hyperbole. If you just made $4.6 million in one season, you should have no issues “taking care of your family.” If $4.6 million isn’t enough to take care of them, then you don’t know how to handle money. Making more doesn’t fix that issue. I’m all for guys signing big contracts. Godwin seems like a good dude. Go get all the money you can, but don’t hide behind “taking care of your family.”
Are you that clueless? It’s NOT enough!
He is only 24. And that 4.6 is more like 2 after taxes and your agent dip in.
You should be able to generate 4% interest on a $2MM stake; that’s $80,000 a year…
…using this one weird trick.
You forgot taxes on the 80k
I am sure the fact that Brady is there plays a good part. No doubt the kid will get a paycheck, but another likely SB run with the GOAT very well may make his stock rise, especially should he go to a poor team with tons of cap space