Chris Godwin has been one of the most productive wide receivers over the last three years, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout is set to become a free agent for the first time in his career.
Godwin has averaged 81.9 receiving yards per game since the start of the 2019 season, fourth in the NFL. His 53 catches of 20-plus yards since the start of 2019 are third in the league and his 1,443 yards after the catch are fourth in the NFL. One of the best slot receivers in the game, Godwin has 152 catches (fifth in NFL), 2,082 yards (fourth), and 11 touchdowns (tied for eighth) from the slot for the last three years — despite missing nine games with injuries.
Playing under the franchise tag in 2021, Godwin lived up to his $15,983,000 salary. Godwin finished with 98 catches for 1,103 yards and five touchdowns in just 14 games, his second 1,000-yard season in three years. Godwin’s seven receptions per game in 2021 were third in the NFL and 78.8 receiving yards per game were seventh in the league.
Injuries have caused Godwin to miss games, but he will easily be one of the top wideouts available if he hits the open market. Tampa Bay would prefer to keep Godwin in the fold, even if the ACL injury that ended his 2021 season prematurely affects the start of his 2022 season.
Everything you need to know regarding Godwin’s free agency is available here. From projected landing spots to a market value, CBS Sports has all the news and updates. Godwin will be one of the most intriguing players on the market this month.
Salary cap figures come from Over the Cap
Potential landing spots
- Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars desperately need a playmaking receiver as Trevor Lawrence heads into his second season and they have the cap space ($56,822,427) to overpay for a wideout. Godwin should be on their radar as a top pass-catching option for Lawrence and a reliable option in the slot. He would instantly make the Jaguars better.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: After Mike Evans, who does Tampa Bay have at wide receiver? The Antonio Brown fiasco left the Buccaneers in a major hole, leaving Tyler Johnson, Scotty Miller, Jaelon Darden, and Breshad Perriman as the top options. The Buccaneers need Godwin back, no matter who is the quarterback in 2022.
- Kansas City Chiefs: Getting a No. 2 wide receiver is vital toward Kansas City returning to the Super Bowl, putting Patrick Mahomes in excellent position to win his second Super Bowl title in four years. The Chiefs also need to focus on their pass rush and secondary in free agency, so Godwin may not be the top priority with $11,188,535 in available cap space. Godwin could interchange with Tyreek Hill on the outside and in the slot, giving the Chiefs an embarrassment of riches at pass catcher for Mahomes.
- Green Bay Packers: A good way to convince Aaron Rodgers to stay in Green Bay would be to give him a playmaker in the slot to pair with Davante Adams (assuming they can keep Adams). Godwin would be a perfect fit for a team that has won 13-plus games and had one of the top offenses in each of the last three years. If the Packers can’t get a deal done with Adams, they’ll have to upgrade at wide receiver with Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling also being free agents. Signing Godwin is a long shot, but the Packers have a shot if they can get creative with the salary cap.
- Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles need a No. 2 wide receiver in the worst way, specifically in the slot. Philadelphia has a No. 1 in DeVonta Smith and a rising star at tight end in Dallas Goedert, but not much else in the pass catching department outside of Quez Watkins. If the Eagles are committed to Jalen Hurts for 2022, they need to give him more help at wide receiver. Godwin in the slot would be a natural fit.
- New England Patriots: The Patriots’ top wide receivers last season were Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne as free agent signing Nelson Agholor had a subpar first year with the team. New England needs to get Mac Jones a No. 1 wide receiver, a player who can catch the ball and is a reliable target in the middle of the field. The Patriots have $8,329,412 available in cap space, and can clear enough room to make a play for Godwin.
- Indianapolis Colts: Whether Indianapolis decides to keep Carson Wentz for 2022 or not, the Colts need help at wide receiver outside of Michael Pittman. Zach Pascal was the team’s second-leading receiver with only 384 yards, so a massive upgrade is needed. With $35,847,327 in available cap space, the Colts can throw a lot of money Godwin’s way. They should be a player for his services.
Projected contract
Spotrac has Godwin’s projected value at five years and $90,979,940, an average annual value of $18,195,988. Based on players who received similar deals around Godwin’s age, Keenan Allen received a four-year, $80.1 million deal while Tyreek Hill received a three-year, $54 million deal. Amari Cooper also earned a five-year, $100 million deal and Adam Thielen received a four-year, $64.2 million deal.
Godwin would be the sixth-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL if he received that amount. He has the 11th-most catches (249), ninth-most yards (3,276), and tied for 13th-most touchdowns (21) since the start of the 2019 season — despite missing nine games.
The value appears to fit what the player is worth. If Godwin could stay healthy, the deal could provide immense value in a few years.
Prediction
If Godwin does hit the free agent market, the Colts and Jaguars should be major players to sign the 26-year-old wide receiver. Hard to see Tampa Bay letting Godwin walk without a fight, especially since his value may have taken a hit with his ACL injury. The Buccaneers find a way to keep Godwin on a team-friendly deal that pays Godwin a lot of money up front. If Godwin does leave, it’s due to the quarterback situation in Tampa Bay.
Free agent timeline
Buccaneers would like to reach long-term deal with Godwin
February 25: The Buccaneers feel they can reach a long-term deal with Godwin, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Of course, if the Buccaneers reach a long-term deal with Godwin, they can then use their franchise tag on a different player for the 2022 season — which could be used on cornerback Carlton Davis.
