Chris Godwin

Cowboys, Patriots Balked At Cooper Kupp’s Price; Pats Wrote ‘Blank Checks’ For Chris Godwin?

March 23rd, 2025 at 11:10pm CST by Rory Parks

After veteran WR Cooper Kupp was released by the Rams, he generated a healthy market and quickly found a new club. Just two days after his release, the Super Bowl LVI MVP joined the Seahawks on a three-year, $45MM contract.

The $15MM average annual value on Kupp’s Seattle deal surpassed initial expectations. The Cowboys, who were known to be in the market for a pass-catching sidekick for CeeDee Lamb, were connected to Kupp, but even the $12MM AAV that was originally believed to be the asking price for the former Rams target was seen as too rich for Dallas’ liking.

Elaborating further on that point, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes Lamb and Cowboys QB Dak Prescott called Kupp in an effort to recruit him to Dallas. Per Schefter, the club was indeed interested before bowing out due to financial considerations.

“[T]he Cowboys reached out about Cooper Kupp, and they were interested,” Schefter said on a recent podcast (via Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS). “Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, who I understand it, were on the phone with Cooper Kupp talking to him about the idea of coming to Dallas, and it was floated out there. And then the Cowboys heard the numbers, and they were at numbers the Cowboys weren’t going to get to.”

With massive contracts for Prescott and Lamb already on the books and another one for Micah Parsons in the works – despite a current lack of traction on that front – Dallas’ reluctance to make additional notable commitments to its cap sheet has been well-documented. Nonetheless, the team does hope to compete for a postseason berth in 2025, and signing Parris Campbell one day after Kupp agreed to join the Seahawks may not have been an ideal consolation prize for the Cowboys’ QB1/WR1 duo (especially since Brandin Cooks has now rejoined the Saints).

Interestingly, the Patriots, who entered the offseason with easily the most cap space in the NFL and who still lead the league in that regard, were also unwilling to exceed a certain threshold for Kupp. New England has been on the lookout for a high-end receiver for some time and was named as a suitor for Kupp. However, just like the Cowboys, the Pats bowed out when it became clear how much money Kupp was going to command (as Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal implies).

Despite the season-ending ankle injury that Chris Godwin suffered in Week 7 of the 2024 season, New England seemingly had no reservations about his price point. We already knew the Pats were preparing to make an aggressive push for Godwin, who reportedly left money on the table to re-sign with the Bucs. As it turns out, he might have left quite a lot of money on the table.

In a recent appearance on 95.3 WDAE (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk), Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht said, “[t]here were several teams that inquired but there was one that kept writing him blank checks. We got to a point of what we could do in order to keep everything together and add some pieces here, and he took it.”

Naturally, Licht did not name the blank check writer, but as Smith notes, the Patriots are believed to have extended a very lucrative offer. We may never know how high New England was willing to go to land Godwin, though QB Drake Maye cannot fault the club for its efforts to add to his supporting cast.

With Godwin off the market, the Pats recently turned their attention to free agent wideout Stefon Diggs. As of the time of this writing, a deal with the four-time Pro Bowler is not imminent.

Buccaneers Re-Sign WR Sterling Shepard

March 14th, 2025 at 2:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

As Jason Licht‘s staff has checked in again with a few notable re-signings this offseason, the veteran GM is getting into the news-breaking act regarding his latest. Sterling Shepard will stay in Tampa for another season, Licht announced.

Shepard rejoined former Oklahoma teammate Baker Mayfield last year, and the former injury-prone Giant played a supporting role during a season in which Chris Godwin and Mike Evans missed time. With Godwin coming back, Shepard will join him. It is a one-year deal that guarantees Shepard $500K and can max out at $2.25MM, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.

The Bucs signed Shepard after the draft last year, bringing him in after Mayfield had reached out about the receiver’s interest in playing another season. Shepard enjoyed a bigger role than he had in his Giants finale, catching 32 passes for 354 yards and a touchdown. Coming off a 2022 Achilles tear, Shepard only caught 10 passes for 57 yards with the Giants after having re-signed with the team that drafted him. Shepard, 32, also has an ACL tear on his medical sheet.

Tampa Bay brought back Godwin on a three-year, $66MM deal. Godwin had said he turned down several million — ESPN indicated that number may have been as high as $30MM in total (via the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud). While it is not known if Godwin turned down a four-year offer for more nonguaranteed money — as it would be a bit difficult to imagine he passed on anything close to $30MM in additional guarantees — the Bucs have continually proven they can retain talent. Godwin and Shepard join stalwart linebacker Lavonte David, guard starter Ben Bredeson and rotational outside linebacker Anthony Nelson in re-signing this offseason.

Shepard has fallen off the pace he had been on during his early Giants years. Totaling at least 575 receiving yards each season from 2016-20, the former Odell Beckham Jr. New York sidekick has not eclipsed 375 in a season since. But the injury-prone slot target did help the Bucs while Godwin was on the shelf last year. He will attempt to do so again, most likely settling in as a No. 4 receiver for a team that saw promise from third-round rookie Jalen McMillan down the stretch last year. McMillan’s time as a top-two option is on hold, but the Bucs — who also roster former sixth-rounder Trey Palmer — have depth secured in Shepard.

Buccaneers To Re-Sign Chris Godwin

March 10th, 2025 at 11:15am CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers keep investing at receiver. A year after agreeing to terms with Mike Evans on a third contract, Tampa Bay will bring back Chris Godwin.

They have agreed to a three-year, $66MM deal to retain Godwin, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported during an NFL Network appearance. Godwin will see $44MM guaranteed on this accord.

Godwin is believed to have left some money on the table to stay in Tampa, and the Bucs will keep Baker Mayfield‘s receiving corps intact. The cap-rich Patriots were believed to be readying a pursuit, but Godwin rejoined the Bucs shortly after the legal tampering period began. The second-leading pass catcher in franchise history continues to follow Evans. Tampa Bay, however, has the younger of its two receiver staples potentially in place to succeed Evans as the No. 1 option — as Evans is back in a contract year.

Although Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle seven games into last season, he did not see a chilled market. A report last week indicated the eight-year veteran could have approached $25MM per year. Godwin’s new deal will check in just south of that number, but he once again betters Evans’ contract.

Godwin, 28, had previously done so when he inked a three-year, $60MM deal as Tampa Bay’s franchise player. The Bucs tagged Godwin twice earlier this decade, and despite drafting Jalen McMillan in Round 3 last year, their commitment to the Evans-Godwin partnership persists.

When Godwin went down last season, he ranked second in the NFL in receiving yardage (576 yards). Godwin had made it back from the ACL and MCL tears sustained in December 2021, but he did not quite look himself during the 2022 and ’23 campaigns. Still, Godwin surpassed 1,000 yards in each season, helping Mayfield rebound in 2023. The Bucs will give Godwin a chance to rebound and will pay plenty for this opportunity.

This takes the top wide receiver option, per PFR’s Top 50 Free Agent list, off the market. Godwin being three years younger than Davante Adams made him the top prize this offseason, with Tee Higgins again off the market. Tampa Bay again proves it can retain talent despite imminent free agency. Godwin’s deal follows the re-signings of Shaquil Barrett, Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean after each had entered a legal tampering period unattached.

Patriots Expected To Pursue Chris Godwin

March 7th, 2025 at 2:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although many big-name receivers are available in free agency, Chris Godwin is probably the top prize — now that Tee Higgins is again out of play. PFR’s No. 7 free agent in this year’s class, Godwin is indeed expected to draw major interest.

Leading the way in cap space, the Patriots are expected to be a lead the way in driving Godwin’s market, per the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi. Considering the work the Pats did at wide receiver last year, it is unsurprising they are readying for a major pursuit to help Drake Maye on a rookie contract.

Maye’s rookie deal plays into one of the strongest hands in free agency history. The Patriots lead the way in cap space, by a wide margin, with more than $125MM. They chased Calvin Ridley last year, seeing the Titans outbid them, and explored the trade market. New England is believed to have submitted the top AAV to Brandon Aiyuk, at around $32MM, but the late-summer trade chip opted to stay with the 49ers on an extension. With Pats target Higgins again franchise-tagged (and again being kept out of trades), the team may need to focus on Godwin.

The longtime Mike Evans sidekick’s price will be high, as the cap has climbed another $24MM. The Godwin derby could go beyond $25MM per year, Giardi adds, even though he is coming off a dislocated ankle. Godwin, who played out a three-year deal worth $60MM, also suffered ACL and MCL tears in 2021 but responded with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Although Godwin was second in the NFL in receiving yards when he went down last year, as he had looked like his pre-ACL-tear version, a second major injury could induce some pause.

Godwin is going into an age-29 season and has four 1,000-yard years on his resume. The Super Bowl-winning wideout will have options. One of them appears to be a return to the Buccaneers, with Jason Licht expressing a desire to retain him once again. Franchise-tagged twice, Godwin has never hit free agency previously. The Bucs were able to keep Evans and Baker Mayfield off last year’s market, but time is running out here. Godwin can begin talking to other teams at 11am CT Monday. While the Bucs were able to convince Shaquil Barrett, Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean to re-sign after they had hit the market earlier this decade, Godwin’s price may be too high for a team still paying Evans and one that handed out market-setting deals at left tackle (Tristan Wirfs) and safety (Antoine Winfield Jr.) last year.

The Giants figure to need a Malik Nabers complementary piece, and the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy notes they were interested in Godwin as a trade target back in 2023. Though, Dunleavy expects the Giants to be priced out here. New York is still on the hook for more than $20MM in Daniel Jones dead money, and its cap-space figure ($45MM-plus) is dwarfed by the Patriots’ number.

Patriots Targeting Ronnie Stanley, Jamien Sherwood; Team Has “Kicked Tires” On D.K. Metcalf

March 2nd, 2025 at 8:47am CST by Rory Parks

The Patriots are known to be targeting additions to the offensive and defensive lines this offseason, and new head coach Mike Vrabel has indicated his club will be active in free agency (after all, New England does have nearly $130MM in cap space, the most in the league by a comfortable margin). To that end, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports the Pats will aggressively pursue Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley should Stanley hit the open market.

Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald also hear that Stanley is one of New England’s top targets. Offensive line play was a major issue for the team in 2024, as the Pats finished 31st in Pro Football Focus’ metrics with respect to pass protection and last in run blocking. Stanley had struggled with injuries in recent years, and even when he was on the field, he did not look like the same player that earned a First Team All-Pro nod in 2019. After being forced to accept a $7.5MM pay cut in advance of the 2024 season, Stanley turned in a terrific platform campaign, landing his second Pro Bowl bid and playing a full complement of games for the first time in his career.

Naturally, the Ravens want Stanley back and have prioritized a new contract for him. However, the franchise tag is not considered as an option because of how it would hinder a team that is just outside the bottom-10 in cap room and because the $23.4MM tag number for O-linemen would set the floor in negotiations above where Baltimore is willing to go. New England reportedly values Stanley’s leadership and experience in big games in addition to his raw ability, and if Stanley and the Ravens cannot come to terms before the onset of free agency, Vrabel & Co. appear ready to pounce.

If their Stanley pursuit is unsuccessful, Callahan and Kyed say the Patriots are nonetheless comfortable with the Steelers’ Dan Moore or the Vikings’ Cam Robinson – a New England trade target at the 2024 deadline – as fallback plans (the team also had interest in the Rams’ Alaric Jackson before he re-upped with Los Angeles). And, even if they are able to acquire an established OT, the Pats will presumably not be done in their search for better protection for QB Drake Maye and their rushing attack

LSU OT Will Campbell is a real possibility for the Patriots’ No. 4 overall selection in April’s draft, with league evaluators seeing Campbell or Michigan DT Mason Graham as the most likely candidates for the pick. If QB-needy teams select both Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders before New England is on the clock, though, the Pats will have the opportunity to take one of the top non-QBs in the 2025 class (Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter).

Of that duo, Hunter is viewed as the more likely to fall to No. 4. As opposed to Carter, Hunter would not address the Pats’ top goal of bolstering their trenches, but beyond OL and DL help, the Boston Herald sees cornerback, wide receiver, and linebacker as the next positions of priority. Regardless of whether New England sees Hunter as a CB or wideout, the two-way blue-chipper would be a major get.

With respect to the linebacker need, the Patriots reportedly “covet” Jets LB Jamien Sherwood, particularly since he exhibits the speed and physicality that Vrabel is hoping to inject into his front seven. The 2021 fifth-rounder was mostly quiet through his first three professional seasons before bursting onto the scene in a big way in his walk year, starting 16 of New York’s 17 games while tallying 158 total tackles – including a league-leading 98 solo stops – and 10 tackles for loss while finishing as PFF’s 18th-best LB. The Jets and Sherwood have mutual interest in an extension, though it appears the Pats are eyeing the situation closely.

As for the WR position, there were several reports connecting the Patriots to Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins this offseason. Those reports were published before it became clear Cincinnati was prepared to put the franchise tag on Higgins for a second time. While a tag presumably remains a possibility, Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) reports the team has not told Higgins whether he will actually receive the tag before Tuesday’s deadline.

Nonetheless, sources tell Callahan and Kyed that Higgins will not be available (either as an FA or as a trade candidate). Should the Bengals change their mind on that front, the Patriots would be back in the mix, despite some conflicting reports to the contrary.

It has been said that the Patriots would explore trades for a WR, though the Boston Herald believes the team would prefer to address their need for a proven pass-catcher through free agency to avoid surrendering premium draft capital. The Bucs’ Chris Godwin would be a top target if Tampa Bay allows him to test the free agent waters, and on the trade front, the Pats have reportedly “kicked the tires” on the Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf. It is presently unclear if those discussions gained any traction.

Given New England’s areas of need, it is not surprising that Callahan and Kyed – whose piece is well-worth a read for Pats fans in particular given its scope and comprehensiveness – name Eagles DT Milton Williams and 49ers CB Charvarius Ward as several of New England’s other top FA targets.

Bucs GM: Team Aims To Keep Chris Godwin

February 26th, 2025 at 10:38am CST by Sam Robinson

While no player has been franchise-tagged three times since the 2006 CBA made such a move prohibitive, the Buccaneers would still like to keep Chris Godwin off the free agent market.

The Bucs, who have also done very well to convince core players to re-sign once they become free agents, remain interested in re-signing Godwin. Jason Licht confirmed this previously rumored stance, indicating that the Bucs still view their accomplished WR2 highly despite another major injury — this one a dislocated ankle.

“Hopefully, we can come to an agreement with him because Chris means the world to this organization, to all of us individually but as an organization as a whole,” Licht said, via ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine. “Nobody has been more resilient than him. We’ve been down this road, a similar path, with him. Nobody has been more resilient and works harder than him. So those are the good things. If I were a betting man, I’d bet on Chris. But the facts are we have to wade through some variables here.”

Licht alluding to variables makes sense. The Bucs re-signed Mike Evans in 2024, though he is already back in a contract year, and saw third-round pick Jalen McMillan progress down the stretch. Another Godwin deal could interfere with McMillan’s development, and another contract for the team’s longtime Evans sidekick would significantly increase the franchise’s allocation at wide receiver.

The Bucs have a history in prioritizing Godwin despite an injury. They applied a second franchise tag on the 2017 third-round pick in 2022, after he had suffered ACL and MCL tears the previous December, and then gave him a three-year, $60MM extension. Godwin returned on time and has since posted two more 1,000-yard seasons. Betting on Godwin once again falls in line with the Bucs’ M.O., which has involved retaining core players. They were able to keep Evans off the market last year, even as a Tee Higgins franchise tag would have driven up his value. Higgins is expected to be tagged again, and it would stand to reason Godwin would want to gauge his free agency value for the first time.

As could be expected, the Bucs will not re-tag Godwin, Laine adds. Even if Godwin reaches the legal tampering period unsigned, the Bucs have shown they can retain talent. They re-signed Shaq Barrett after he was free to speak to other teams in 2021, and they did the same with Carlton Davis (2022) and Jamel Dean (2023). The team did not let Baker Mayfield hit free agency, signing him a day before last year’s legal tampering period. Tampa Bay has until 11am CT on March 10 to negotiate exclusively with Godwin, a four-time 1,000-yard receiver and the second-leading pass catcher in franchise history.

The Bucs already moved Godwin’s void date back, with Laine confirming it was delayed from Feb. 17 to March 12. This is something they did not do for Evans, who counted as both an active contract and dead money on the team’s 2024 payroll. Sliding the void date back will allow the team more time to re-sign Godwin, as a re-up before that point would keep void years-driven dead money off the Bucs’ cap sheet. The team has already seen edge rusher Anthony Nelson‘s deal void, per Fox Sports’ Greg Auman; this will create $2.65MM in dead money for the team in 2025.

Elsewhere on the Bucs’ roster, they are planning to allow slot cornerback Tykee Smith compete for a starting safety job. Todd Bowles said (via the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud) the 2024 third-round pick, who has primarily operated as the Bucs’ nickel performer, will vie for a starting safety job. That would allow for more Smith playing time, but it would also give the Bucs work to do in the slot again.

Jordan Whitehead primarily worked as Antoine Winfield Jr.‘s wingman at safety last season, though the two-time Buccaneer missed five games. Whitehead’s second Bucs contract runs through the 2025 season. Christian Izien, who has played a few roles (including safety) for the team during his two-year career, would be a candidate to return to the slot if Smith’s safety push sticks, Stroud adds. Izien worked regularly in the slot in 2023.

Buccaneers, WR Chris Godwin Agree To Delayed Void Date

February 18th, 2025 at 9:12pm CST by Ely Allen

As we’ve seen Minnesota do in recent days with players heading to free agency like running back Aaron Jones and cornerback Byron Murphy, the Buccaneers have come to an agreement with wide receiver Chris Godwin to move his contract void date, per Greg Auman of FOX Sports. With what’s becoming a popular negotiation strategy, Tampa Bay is following the Vikings early lead this offseason.

The Vikings have utilized this strategy to give themselves a bit more time in negotiating with veterans with expiring contracts. When those veterans have void years on the end of their expiring deals, the amount from those years officially hits the future cap as dead money at a deadline that was designated to occur this week.

Delaying the deadline provides benefits for parties. First, it grants the team more time to communicate and work towards an extension with their pending free agents. Second, it decreases the likelihood that a player will receive a franchise tag, since the deadline to announce the franchised players falls before the void deadline.

With Godwin, his impending void deadline was set to trigger $18MM in dead money against the team’s 2025 salary cap. Instead, the veteran wideout and team will have until the final day of the league year to figure out a new extension and avoid that dead money hit.

Buccaneers Aim To Re-Sign Chris Godwin

February 17th, 2025 at 10:36am CST by Adam La Rose

Chris Godwin has played on the franchise tag once in his career, and receiving the tag the second time around was followed by a three-year deal. The veteran wideout is on track for free agency, but another Buccaneers agreement would come as no surprise.

Executives around the league expect Godwin to once again re-sign in Tampa Bay. Adding further to that sentiment, ESPN’s Jenna Laine writes the team will “do what it takes” to keep the former Pro Bowler in Tampa Bay. Godwin was limited to seven games in 2024 by an ankle injury, but he would be counted on as a key member of the team’s passing attack in the event he were to sign another Bucs contract.

Approaching his 29th birthday, Godwin has surpassed 1,000 yards four times in his career. Across his eight years in Tampa Bay, he has proven to be a highly effective complement to Mike Evans by providing consistent production in the slot in particular. Prior to his injury this past season, Godwin was averaging just over 82 receiving yards per game, the second-highest total of his career. Keeping him in place would be a sensible move from the team’s perspective as yet another coordinator change is implemented in 2025.

“I love Chris,” new OC Josh Grizzard said (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “And you guys know Chris is as good of a human being and football player as you’re going to be around. He was a huge asset to us last year, being a coach on the field and playing all those different roles.”

Grizzard was promoted from pass-game coordinator to his current title in the wake of Liam Coen‘s departure. He will look to continue the success that Bucs had on offense in 2024, and continuing to lean on the Evans-Godwin tandem would be a reasonable path to take on that front. Tampa Bay did, on the other hand, invest a third-round pick in Jalen McMillan last spring and he logged a 70% snap share as a rookie. Still, if Grizzard and the team have their way, Godwin will again be in the fold for 2025.

The pending free agent class at the receiver spot is headlined by Tee Higgins, but after that a number of veterans with injury histories of questions about declining play are set to reach the market. Godwin’s ACL tear coupled with the ankle injury which sidelined him last year could hinder his earning power, and a similar deal to the three-year, $60MM one he signed in 2022 may not be attainable at this point in his career. With Evans on the books for 2025, though, a short-term accord keeping Godwin in place can be expected.

NFC South Notes: Bucs, Brooks, Saints

January 30th, 2025 at 2:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the post-Super Bowl LV offseason showed and last year reaffirmed, the Buccaneers are high on retaining talent. Those waves of re-signings and extensions involved numerous core players staying, and last year’s effort included Mike Evans re-signing on a third contract. Evans’ deal preceded the Bucs drafting Jalen McMillan in the third round. Tasked with a bigger role after Chris Godwin‘s season-ending ankle injury, McMillan impressed down the stretch — to the point the Bucs could use a rookie-contract wideout to replace their longtime WR2. But it does not appear Tampa Bay has given up on keeping their long-running wideout tandem intact.

Multiple execs informed ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler they expect the Bucs to attempt to re-sign Godwin, who played out a three-year, $60MM deal. Tampa Bay had twice franchise-tagged Godwin, giving him an extension in 2022, but has seen him suffer two major injuries. Then again, the Bucs re-upped the talented Evans sidekick — the second-leading receiver in franchise history — months after an ACL tear. Godwin, 28, would stand to have a nice market if he hit free agency for the first time. The Bucs have until March 10 to prevent that, but the team has also done very well — as the Shaquil Barrett, Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean deals show — to re-sign players even if they do test the market.

Here is the latest from the NFC South:

After Liam Coen avoided contact with Bucs brass during his secret negotiations with the Jaguars, a report indicated Tampa Bay was unlikely to do its former OC any favors regarding assistant coaches. The Bucs are not prepared to let contracted staffers follow Coen to Jacksonville, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the team blocked O-line coach Kevin Carberry from interviewing for the same position with the Jags. Carberry worked with Coen in Los Angeles and came to Tampa last year, but unless a promotion to OC would be in the offing, the Bucs can block interview requests involving assistants.
Jonathon Brooks re-tore the right ACL he injured in college, and the Panthers running back is not expected to be ready to start the 2025 season. The 2024 second-round pick may not factor prominently into that campaign. Brooks underwent surgery last week, per The Athletic’s Joe Person, who adds the Panthers hope the running back would be ready to return before season’s end. A definitive timeline is not yet in place, but Carolina will not be expecting an Adrian Peterson-like recovery from a player who now has sustained two ACL tears since November 2023. It took Brooks until November 24 to debut for the Panthers. He suffered the latest tear Dec. 8. Two years of Brooks’ four-year rookie contract figure to be dominated by missed time.
Chris Olave suffered two concussions during the season; the second knocked him out for the Saints‘ eight games. The former first-round pick visited specialists, and while he did not don a game uniform again, he did return to practice. Olave said he is now symptom-free, per ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell, and ready for a full offseason. That represents good news for a Saints team searching for a new head coach. One year remains on Olave’s rookie contract, though the Saints can extend it through 2025 by exercising the Ohio State alum’s fifth-year option by May.
Cam Jordan wants to play a 15th NFL season, but something might have to give in order for that to happen. The Saints used Jordan as an inside defender on 22.7% of his snaps last season, Terrell notes, and Jordan wants to come back exclusively as a D-end. The decorated sack artist’s production has declined in recent years. After totaling at least 7.5 sacks every season from 2012-22, Jordan registered four in 2024 — after a two-sack 2023. Jordan is due a $12.5MM base salary in his contract year, but as one of the many Saints prior restructures, this contract contains four void years. It would cost New Orleans $23.9MM in dead money to dump Jordan ahead of his age-36 season.

Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin Aiming For Postseason Return

October 29th, 2024 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Chris Godwin‘s recovery process is underway, with his ankle surgery having recently taken place. His injury will sideline him for the remainder of the Buccaneers’ regular season, but he is leaving the door open to a playoff return.

“I mean, I think that’s best-case scenario, right?” Godwin said when asked about his recovery timeline (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine). “Like absolute best case. For all involved. Everything lines up. That’s what you kind of aim for.”

Given those remarks, it should still be considered unlikely Godwin plays again in 2024, even if the Bucs manage a postseason berth. Tampa Bay lost both Godwin and Mike Evans in Week 7 (although the latter’s hamstring injury is not as serious), severely thinning out the team’s receiver depth chart. The Bucs lost the game in which both wideouts went down, along with Sunday’s divisional tilt against the Falcons.

Tampa Bay now sits at 4-4 as a result, so another NFC South title is far from a certainty at this point. Reaching the playoffs will be a challenge given the injuries faced on offense (along with the team’s underwhelming showings on defense). In the event the Buccaneers were able to qualify for the playoffs, though, it would at least open the door to an eventual return on Godwin’s part.

The 28-year-old’s last major injury came in 2021, when he suffered ACL and MCL tears. Godwin managed to top 1,000 yards in each of the past two campaigns, and he was well on his way to surpassing that mark once again in 2024 with a yards per game average of 82.3 (the second-highest of his career). A strong showing would have boosted his market value, but the pending free agent’s attention is now on recovering as quickly as possible.

No talks on an extension are believed to have taken place leading up to the 2024 campaign, leading to plenty of uncertainty surrounding Godwin’s future. Team and player would certainly welcome a return during the postseason, should that become a possibility.

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