Chris Godwin re-signed with the Buccaneers in free agency in a move which will allow him to remain a member of the only NFL team he has played for. The Pro Bowl wideout elected to do so despite notable interest from multiple suitors. 
The Patriots were known to be in the market for a notable free agent addition at the WR spot. New England eventually inked Stefon Diggs, but before that the team also made a strong push for Godwin. The Pats wrote “blank checks” in the latter’s case, and further details on that front have emerged.
Godwin told The Athletic’s Dan Pompei New England offered him $30MM per year (subscription required). His latest Bucs pact, by contrast, carries an AAV of $22MM. Choosing to remain in Tampa Bay involved turning down considerably more money from the Patriots (whose offer could have increased even further), but three other key suitors were involved in this case as well.
The Steelers were one of them, Godwin added. That comes as little surprise, of course, given Pittsburgh’s long-running pursuit of a high-profile wideout. Well before their D.K. Metcalf acquisition, the team was heavily involved in efforts to land Brandon Aiyuk; Christian Kirk was also a target ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. With George Pickens no longer in place, the Steelers have signed Robert Woods but they are still in the market for pass-catching help.
Godwin would have provided New England or Pittsburgh with an upgrade at the receiver position, but he will instead remain a key factor in Tampa Bay’s passing game. The 29-year-old has topped 1,000 yards four times in his Bucs tenure, and he was averaging over 82 yards per game (the second-highest figure of his career) before his 2024 campaign came to an end. Despite the injury to his ankle – among other ailments – he was recovering from, Godwin drew plenty of interest as a potential free agent. His preference was to remain in a familiar setting and by doing so continue his partnership with fellow wideout Mike Evans.
“It’s not always the case that you are surrounded by a ton of good people who care about the right things, who have similar goals and treat people with respect,” Godwin said. “The first thing for me is I want to work with people that I enjoy it with.”
Evans is under contract for one more season, so his productive tandem with Godwin will continue in 2025. The latter will stay in place beyond the coming campaign given his latest commitment to Tampa Bay, one which included turning aside lucrative opportunities from a number of suitors to depart.
The Steelers having interest in FA’s is tantamount to the Toronto Blue Jays having interest in every FA that you find out 3 weeks after the guy signed somewhere else. At some point you just have to go, WTF? Is any of this true or pablum to appease some fans going well at least we tried to get this guy. And by the way, Why would any WR have wanted to go to the Steelers when they didn’t even know who any QB was going to be except Mason Rudolph? Sorry, I just gotta call BS on that one and laugh again.
If you go back to articles written about 3 years ago you’ll find it was the Jets that were always the “close but no cigar champs” with regards to player pursuits. I’ve become too cynical as a senior but i think your “appease the fans” theory is probably spot on Mike.
Good for Godwin. Combine his listed reasons with lower taxes, Warmer weather, good team/org, this being his 3rd contract – makes a lot of sense to me to leave some money on the table.
Agreed. That was a huge offer for NE, though. I’d say that they and Pittsburgh would have both gotten really intriguing WR corps on paper after this potential signing, but for different reasons. NE’s reasons make more sense, to me, ignoring that enormous offer.
I don’t really like the idea of finding both of your top contributors at a position in free agency (and both being a tad older), but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. For NE, having Godwin would have helped develop Maye (or at least relieved some of the pressure on him). Perhaps more importantly, it could have given them at least some cover if Diggs’ situation became…well, difficult. Godwin obviously isn’t a one for one there, but he’s a good receiver who certainly would have picked some of the slack.after all, Godwin only has one fewer All-Pro than Diggs in his career (obviously, this is semi-tongue-in-cheek)…
fire the cannons
Check the source. What would you say in that situation? Nobody would give me more than the Bucs OR I really wanted to be back here