Seahawks Give S Rayshawn Jenkins Permission To Seek Trade
This year’s Combine is nearing double digits on players allowed to find trade partners. Add a Seahawks defensive back to that list.
Seattle has given Rayshawn Jenkins permission to find a trade, FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. Jenkins is tied to a two-year, $12MM Seahawks pact, one he signed after the Jaguars released him last year.
The NFC West is running wild on this front. The Rams have given Matthew Stafford and Jonah Jackson permission to find a trade (though, Stafford’s permission only stands to set his contract range), and Cooper Kupp is squarely on the trade block. The 49ers have also given Deebo Samuel permission to shop around. Some player movement appears imminent in the division — be it via trade or release.
Jenkins, who turned 31 last month, started nine games for the Seahawks last season. The former Chargers and Jaguars starter was in the Seahawks’ lineup for each game before a midseason IR trip — after a hand injury — but logged only three more starts upon being activated. More activity at safety appears likely for Seattle, which made significant moves at the position last year.
The Seahawks scrapped their Jamal Adams–Quandre Diggs plan, releasing both players. They later extended Julian Love, who remains the team’s safety centerpiece. Jenkins came in to start alongside Love, signing not long after the Jags ditched his four-year, $35MM deal. Jenkins returned a fumble 102 yards for a score last season but did not intercept a pass. Pro Football Focus graded the eight-year veteran as a bottom-12 safety last season, however.
For his career, Jenkins has made 89 starts and intercepted 10 passes. He did enough with the Chargers to command a nice Jaguars contract, though PFF has viewed him as a bottom-quartile safety since that deal came to pass. The Jags disagreed with the advanced metrics site’s assessments for a while; the Seahawks might not. Jenkins is due a $4.89MM base salary in 2025; cutting him would save the Seahawks $5.28MM.
Seattle has transitioned Coby Bryant from cornerback to safety; he started 11 games last season. PFF’s No. 22 overall safety in 2024, Bryant is under contract for one more season. Love’s new deal runs through 2027.
Raiders, Matthew Stafford Finding Common Ground On Contract; Team Not Open To Trading First-Round Pick
It appears the Raiders have moved to the front of the line among the Matthew Stafford suitors. In a situation that has begun to remind of the Steelers’ pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk last summer, a trade partner is moving toward agreeing on contract parameters.
Although trade terms would still need to be worked out, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore reports the Raiders and Stafford are believed to have found “common ground” on contract terms. That would represent an important step. As the Aiyuk matter showed, however, the Rams still hold the hammer here.
[RELATED: Giants Pursued Stafford Before 2024 Trade Deadline]
While the 49ers viewed Aiyuk as important to their NFC title defense last year, Stafford obviously is the centerpiece of his current team. The Rams and their four-year quarterback are not in agreement on contract terms, leading to the team allowing other clubs to effectively set the market here. Sean McVay has expressed a desire to keep Stafford in Los Angeles, and the veteran starter has not requested a trade. Still, a few teams — the Raiders, Giants, Browns and Steelers — have been connected to the QB. Trade compensation would become the next step.
The Raiders look to share the Giants’ view of Stafford’s trade value. The Giants are not interested in trading the No. 3 overall pick for Stafford, even as the Rams are believed to want a first-rounder in a potential swap, and Bonsignore adds the Raiders view their first-rounder (No. 6 overall) as off the table. Considering Stafford’s age (37), it is unsurprising the Raiders would balk at moving such a high pick. They view that choice as essential to building a roster — either around Stafford or in a reality that does not feature the 17th-year vet donning silver and black.
Las Vegas will not be punished for tampering regarding the Stafford-Tom Brady summit in Montana, as the Rams have given their QB permission to speak with other teams. Stafford is believed to be seeking a contract worth $50MM-plus per year. The Rams are not expected to reach that place, and Bonsignore adds it is not known if the Raiders would sign off on that salary range. Stafford would be nearly six years older than anyone in the current $50MM-AAV club.
Stafford is largely in this place because he did not pursue a player-friendly contract in 2022, having left money on the table (via the $40MM-per-year extension) to help the Rams build around him. After coming back from an injury-plagued 2022 season, however, Stafford has turned in back-to-back quality years. With the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa in the $50MM-per-year contingent — along with the player who was the throw-in in the 2021 Stafford trade (Jared Goff) — it is understandable that L.A. QB would want a raise commensurate with his accomplishments and present form. Along that line, the Rams are taking a risk exposing their starter in the manner they are.
For now, Stafford remains a Ram. He is due a $4MM roster bonus soon, though that would seemingly not be enough money to derail a trade if there is one to make down the line. But Stafford suitors will want an answer soon, as they would need to move on to other options if no trade with the Rams can happen.
Aaron Rodgers Eyeing Rams, Aiming To Continue Playing With Davante Adams?
Set to be released from his Jets contract soon, Aaron Rodgers must wait until March 12 before becoming a free agent. Because the Jets are planning to designate him as a post-June 1 cut, no official release can take place until the start of the 2025 league year. In the meantime, however, the future Hall of Fame quarterback can survey the landscape.
One place that would understandably generate interest: Los Angeles. Rodgers indeed is believed to be eyeing a Rams fit, according to the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard. This is contingent upon the Rams following through with a Matthew Stafford trade. While Stafford and the Rams look to find a solution on his contract, a handful of teams have come up as destinations for the 37-year-old passer.
[RELATED: Reexamining Jets-Packers’ 2023 Rodgers Trade]
Rodgers is now 41 and not in the same form Stafford is. That said, he still played 17 games for the Jets and finished with 28 touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions (albeit at just 6.7 yards per attempt). The former Packers superstar has not closely reminded fans of his MVP form, but he would be an upgrade for teams in need at the position. While teams like the Steelers, Browns and Raiders would come to mind as potential fits — particularly Pittsburgh and Cleveland due to the AFC North teams’ roster talent — the Rams have presented an optimal fit for quarterbacks since Sean McVay arrived in 2017.
Rodgers led the way to the Jets acquiring several of his ex-Green Bay teammates, with OC Nathaniel Hackett also owing his status in New York to his former Packers pupil. If Rodgers commits to playing a 21st season (a direction he is leaning), Leonard writes he would want to bring Davante Adams with him once again. The Jets gave up a third-round pick for Adams, and while that did not reignite last season’s edition, the former All-Pro did outperform Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins; he just did so for a 5-12 team.
The four-time MVP has a home in Los Angeles, and Adams has been tied to seeking a West Coast fit. The Rams came up as a potential destination, adding some intrigue here. It is not certain the Rams would want Rodgers, who does bring some baggage at this point in his career. A scenario in which the Rams move off Stafford and add Rodgers on the cheap could appeal to the NFC West club, but counting on a 40-something passer who suffered an Achilles tear in September 2023 would not be for everyone. If the Rams do pull the trigger on moving Stafford, though, they would obviously want a path to a starter-caliber quarterback to help sustain their playoff status.
Jets GM Darren Mougey did not indicate which way the team was leaning with Adams, only saying he is still at Jet at this time. But the team will not pay the accomplished wideout a $35.6MM base salary. The Jets are expected to move on soon, and they would not need to wait until June 1 with Adams. Cutting the 32-year-old performer would save the team $29.9MM.
The Rams signing off on the same Rodgers-Adams package the Jets are jettisoning would be interesting, given the team’s status as a perennial (save for an injury-ravaged 2022 season) contender. After all, the team is preparing to move on from its own 30-something receiver — Cooper Kupp. But it would appear Rodgers is closely monitoring the Stafford situation just in case the Rams would be interested in being his third NFL employer.
Saints Planning To Retain Derek Carr
The Saints’ on-brand restructure of Derek Carr‘s contract last year leaves them with a harder out on the middling quarterback’s contract. Even after the Broncos took on $83MM-plus in dead money to drop Russell Wilson, a Saints-Carr split would bring a noticeable dead cap hit for a team that wages cap-compliance odysseys annually.
It would cost New Orleans $50.1MM in total to drop Carr. While the team could halve that (roughly) with a post-June 1 designation this year, it would still leave Kellen Moore‘s team in need at the game’s marquee position. While the Saints’ new HC stopped short of confirming Carr would lead his first New Orleans offense, Mickey Loomis leaned more in that direction at the Combine.
The 24th-year Saints GM said (via ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell) Carr is “a guy we can win with,” as the veteran exec indicated the team will prepare for a third season with Carr at the helm. He remains tied to the four-year, $150MM deal authorized in 2023. The Saints would have had an easier time removing this contract from their payroll had the 2024 restructure not taken place, but the team needed to complete its usual quest to create cap space.
Retaining Carr may not be the most exciting news to Saints fans, but their cap situation — even as skilled as Loomis has proven in escaping trouble and stalling a true rebuild — would worsen considerably with a Carr separation. The Saints are still projected to be nearly $50MM over the 2025 cap. They have until 3pm CT on March 12 to move out of the red.
Moore also offered more support for Carr on Wednesday, indicating the Saints “feel fortunate to have Derek here, the experience he has. He’s a big-time quarterback in this league.” Loomis had said his next HC hire would shape the team’s QB direction; it appears, for now, this remains a Carr-centric roster. Moore’s team will assuredly be looking for a Carr heir apparent either this year or next, as this will be the age-34 season of a quarterback who has resided in the league’s middle class at the position for most of his career.
Last year, however, Carr did carry his highest QBR since 2020; the ex-Raider finished his abbreviated season with a 63.4 QBR. That would have been good for 13th in the league, though Carr did not have enough snaps to qualify. That showing also came after the Saints played without starting wideouts Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed for most of the season. Carr missed seven games as well, marking by far his lowest attendance in an NFL season. He had never previously missed more than two regular-season games.
Carr said earlier this year he would not accept a pay cut from the Saints. He is due a $10MM roster bonus in March, when his $30MM base salary will become guaranteed. That is a sizable commitment for the Saints, but they do not have great options to move on. Beyond the above-referenced financial ramifications, New Orleans needs a future QB answer in what is viewed as a down draft at the position. Using Carr as a bridge while Loomis and Moore plan ahead makes sense, even if the Saints continue to punt on a rebuild.
Steelers To Prioritize 2025 T.J. Watt Deal
Although Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson have generated far more headlines this offseason, T.J. Watt is a central part of what promises to be a transformative edge rusher year. As expected, the Steelers are readying a second extension.
Fourth-year GM Omar Khan said (via the Pat McAfee Show‘s Mark Kaboly) extending Watt will be a priority. Watt, who said he wants to remain with the Steelers beyond 2025, joins Hendrickson and Micah Parsons as All-Pro edge defenders entering contract years.
It took the Steelers until days before Week 1 to complete a Watt deal in 2021, as the Pennsylvania pass-rushing icon scored three fully guaranteed years — breaking a Steelers non-QB precedent — at that point. With other standouts (Garrett included) on the radar for big-ticket extensions, more complications may be afoot for the Steelers this time around.
Watt’s four-year, $112MM extension held the title for most lucrative EDGE contract for two years, as it took until Nick Bosa‘s holdout produced a $34MM-per-year deal. It took until March 2024 for another player (Brian Burns) to surpass Watt’s $28MM-AAV pact. Bosa remains the only edge player earning more than $29MM per annum. That will almost definitely change this offseason.
Early word about a Watt number has produced a price between $35-$37MM per year, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline notes. The cap has ballooned by a staggering amount since Watt signed his deal. The COVID-19 pandemic had dropped the 2021 cap $182.5MM. Projections for the 2025 cap have it checking in nearly $100MM north of that place. Some of the league’s best players are in contract years, and their extensions should reflect where the cap has gone.
Garrett, Hendrickson and Parsons’ situations will naturally impact Watt’s. The Pittsburgh superstar is the most decorated player from this contingent, and he is going into an age-31 season. Watt will glide to the Hall of Fame one day, but he remains in his prime. A deal that approaches $40MM per year would not be out of step with a market that could produce some eye-popping numbers before Week 1. As the Bengals are prepared to make Ja’Marr Chase the league’s highest-paid non-QB, the superstar wide receiver will have competition beyond his own position for that title. Justin Jefferson is currently the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB, at $35MM per year. It will probably take more for the Steelers to extend Watt.
One of Watt’s practice opponents is again in position-change rumors, as Kaboly adds the Steelers are planning to slide Broderick Jones to the left side. The Steelers’ starter at RT for the past 1 1/2 seasons, Jones was rumored to be heading to LT to challenge Dan Moore Jr. for the past two years. No stiff challenges emerged, as Moore continued to fend off first-round picks.
With Moore expected to depart in free agency and Troy Fautanu returning after missing most of his rookie season, a Pittsburgh line featuring their 2023 and ’24 first-round picks at left and right tackle will be the plan.
Jones has not yet justified the Steelers’ No. 14 overall investment. Pro Football Focus rated the Georgia alum as the 65th overall tackle. He allowed 10 sacks — the third-most in the NFL — in his second season. While the Steelers employing sack-prone QBs in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields did not help either Jones or Moore (NFL-high 12 sacks allowed), the team is counting on Jones to step up. Jones moving to LT, where he has only played 129 snaps, will be his next step, as the 2025 season will largely determine how the Steelers proceed with the Jones’ fifth-year option come 2026.
Rams Letting Jonah Jackson Seek Trade
Although other offseason storylines are taking shape, 2025 has featured a number of teams giving players permission to shop around. The Rams serve as the headquarters for this tactic, with disappointing free agency addition Jonah Jackson the latest player the team will allow to speak with other teams.
The Rams benched Jackson last season, doing so despite signing him to a three-year, $51MM deal in free agency. They are now giving the guard/short-lived center a green light to look elsewhere, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports.
This might not be the easiest task, as the Rams benched Jackson to use a sixth-round rookie (Beaux Limmer) in their lineup. The team had signed Jackson, triggering a Steve Avila position change. By season’s end, Avila was back at guard opposite the retained Kevin Dotson. Jackson would not seem to have a place on the 2025 Los Angeles roster, beyond overpriced backup, so the Rams will see if they can convince a team to take his contract.
A key date here looms March 12, at the start of the 2025 league year. Jackson will see $8.5MM of his 2025 base salary become guaranteed, Fowler adds. The Rams likely needed to agree to the advanced guarantee date due to the interest the four-year Lions starter garnered in free agency. Jackson finished as last year’s guard-heavy class’ second-highest-paid player at the position — behind only Robert Hunt‘s five-year, $100MM Panthers pact. (The Patriots’ Michael Onwenu did land between the two, AAV-wise, but he continues to rove between guard and tackle.)
The Rams shuttled Jackson from guard to center, after shuttling Avila back to guard during a complicated season up front. Limmer, however, emerged from lottery ticket to starter. The Rams used one of their IR activations on Jackson in mid-November but benched him one game into his return. Jackson’s fourth start did not come until Week 18, when Sean McVay benched many key starters to rest them for the playoffs. In Jackson’s defense, he battled shoulder trouble for a while. A shoulder injury sidelined Jackson for weeks during training camp, and he sustained a fractured scapula in Week 2.
If no trade partner emerges, the Rams would be forced to strongly consider admitting defeat and releasing the five-year vet. If the Rams cut Jackson, they would eat $11.3MM in dead money. This trade news comes after the Rams have let Cooper Kupp know they are not planning to bring him back. More significantly, of course, the Rams have let Matthew Stafford shop around — as the QB and his current team haggle over a new contract.
Jackson, 28, operated as the Lions’ LG starter for the duration of his rookie contract. The former third-round pick drew late Lions interest, but the team backed out when it learned how high the bidding ran. It would stand to reason that a Lions team that also found success re-signing Graham Glasgow at a cheaper rate would look back into Jackson — especially with Kevin Zeitler again a free agent. A Bears team that hired Ben Johnson would seemingly look into Jackson as well. But the Rams would likely either need to eat some of Jackson’s salary — as they are willing to do with Kupp — or accept a low-end return in a trade to move on without outright releasing the experienced blocker.
Bucs Do Not Plan To Pay Jordan Whitehead’s Roster Bonus; Door Open For Return
Todd Bowles mentioned a potential position switch for Tykee Smith; the Buccaneers’ 2024 nickel could move to safety. That would stand to conflict with Jordan Whitehead‘s role, but the Bucs may end up separating from a player they brought back in 2024.
Tampa Bay will not exercise Whitehead’s roster bonus, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. That will make him a free agent two weeks from today. The door is open to another deal — which would be a third Bucs-Whitehead pact — but GM Jason Licht mentioned (via Garafolo) the team will need to see how the veteran safety recovers from injury.
Whitehead, who signed a two-year deal worth $9MM to return to Tampa in 2024, missed five of the Bucs’ final six games last season. It would stand to reason the Bucs would want him back at a lower rate — if a return will be seriously considered. Whitehead is only due a $750K roster bonus on Day 5 of the league year. The Bucs not being prepared to pick that up would stand to diminish the chances the seven-year veteran comes back. Whitehead was due a $3.75MM base salary in 2025.
A November setback halted Whitehead’s run alongside Antoine Winfield Jr. A pectoral injury led Whitehead to IR, but he ran into more trouble upon returning. Whitehead had made it back in time for the Bucs’ Week 17 game, but injuries sustained in a car accident led him to the NFI list, where he remained to close out the season. Whitehead, 28 in March, still has some work to do to rehab those injuries. Licht expressed fondness for the player he once chose in the 2018 fourth round, but the Bucs will protect themselves in the meantime.
Among a wave of Bucs DBs chosen in the draft from 2018-20, Whitehead started 12 games for the team last season. Whitehead has started 101 career games; 67 of those have come with the Bucs. The Jets signed Whitehead to a two-year, $14MM deal in 2022; Licht said he regretted letting the former Super Bowl LV starter leave. Although the veteran GM rectified that by signing off on a reunion last year, Pro Football Focus ranked Whitehead 72nd among safety regulars in 2024.
A Smith move to safety could lead Christian Izien back to a full-time slot role. Whitehead will likely remain on the Bucs’ radar, but it could be a bit before the team strongly considers a third contract due to how his season ended. Whitehead’s crash occurred on his way to the Bucs’ facility before their regular-season finale. The Pitt product had never previously missed more than three games in a season.
Broncos Notes: Sutton, Williams, Nix, Staff
Courtland Sutton and his agent have let the Broncos know he will not play on the final year of this contract, which calls for a $13.5MM base salary. That amount will not become guaranteed until just before Week 1. The Broncos are preparing eventual Sutton extension talks, and a potential price range has circulated. A rumor that emerged earlier this offseason pointed to a deal worth upwards of $25MM per year, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline writes. This would mark a significant raise for Sutton, who signed a $15MM-AAV extension in 2021.
A $25MM AAV would place Sutton in a tie for 11th among receivers. That might be a bit lofty for a two-time 1,000-yard going into an age-30 season, but the cap continues to spike and the Broncos relied on him to both coax improved play from Russell Wilson (in 2023) and quick development from Bo Nix (2024). Sutton finished with 1,081 receiving yards last season and has caught 18 TD passes over the past two. A $25MM-per-year deal would put Sutton ahead of emerging Texans standout Nico Collins while matching him with DeVonta Smith. It would stand to reason the Broncos would aim to have his third contract come in lower than $25MM on average, but that number emerging early is interesting.
Here is the latest out of Denver:
- Sean Payton confirmed at the Combine (via the Denver Post’s Troy Renck) running back and tight end will be priorities soon; the third-year Broncos HC mentioned this during a Kay Adams interview earlier this month as well. Denver rosters little of note at tight end, having seen its Greg Dulcich miss prove costly ahead of an in-season cut, but does return Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime in the backfield. Javonte Williams wants to stay, but recent rumors had the former second-rounder more likely to depart. George Paton said (via DenverSports.com) there is “a chance” Williams stays, noting that the once-productive back will be another year removed from the ACL and LCL tears he sustained in October 2022. Williams has not been the same player since that malady, however, his return would limit the Broncos from a potential upgrade — particularly a player who could be the coveted “joker” performer Payton regularly mentions.
- Although Nix dealt with a transverse process fracture, the QB’s back was not the area his recent surgery addressed. Rather, an ankle procedure took place, 9News’ Mike Klis adds. Nix skipped the Pro Bowl Games, as an alternate invitee, to deal with an issue that nagged him before last season. It affected him at the 2024 Combine, per Renck, who notes the Oregon prospect was dealing with turf toe at that time. That explains why Nix threw at the event but did not run the 40-yard dash. The Broncos benefited from the QB’s mobility last season, and he may be in better form in Year 2 after this surgery.
- Vacillating between edge rusher and inside linebacker during his career, Drew Sanders will be focusing on the latter area in his third season. Payton said (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) he considers the 2023 third-round pick an ILB moving forward. After suffering an Achilles tear last spring, the Arkansas alum will be in line to help a Broncos team that has regular LBs Cody Barton and Justin Strnad due for free agency.
- Sanders’ former position coach has run into some trouble, however. Broncos OLBs coach Michael Wilhoite was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault in connection with an incident at the Denver International Airport on Sunday, Klis reports. A Denver police officer working on assignment told Wilhoite he could not leave his car unattended at a departure terminal. After allegedly cursing at the officer, Wilhoite bumped his chest into him. After the officer is alleged to have pushed Wilhoite, the former linebacker is accused of punching him in the face. The officer then used his taser, but Wilhoite still drove off before being apprehended soon after. Wilhoite, 38, has been released on bail. A former Saints assistant, Wilhoite has coached the Broncos’ OLBs for two seasons.
Packers Shopping CB Jaire Alexander
A Green Bay departure for Jaire Alexander is looking likelier. Mentioned as a player expected to be on the move this offseason, Alexander is now being shopped.
The Packers have engaged in trade talks with teams on the veteran cover man, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Two years remain on Alexander’s $21MM-AAV contract. While the Packers are OK moving Alexander for the right price, the CB’s contract would work against the NFC North team obtaining too much in terms of compensation. Then again, the Saints were able to land a third-rounder and two other picks for Marshon Lattimore, a high-priced corner who has been nearly as unavailable as Alexander has over the past two seasons.
GM Brian Gutekunst said Tuesday (via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein) he has not given a player permission to shop himself in trades in the past, but the Combine will be a place where the Packers and the cornerback’s camp huddle up to determine if there is a future here. The Pack followed this path with Aaron Jones, who rejected what would have been a second pay cut. Gutekunst said last year Jones was in Green Bay’s plans and rebuffed Alexander trade rumors. The veteran exec’s tune is different this year on the talented but unreliable corner.
“We’re working through that. He certainly could be, but I think we’ll work through that as we go,” Gutekunst said of Alexander’s place on the 2025 Packers (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman). “We’ve got to get him out there now. I think obviously, we’ve talked about (how) there’s been a lot of frustration on his part. He wants to be out there badly and not being able to be out there at his best has frustrated him and that has frustrated our football team, too, because we’re better with him. But we’ll see.”
Alexander, 28, has not justified his four-year, $84MM deal. That contract stood as the game’s top CB deal for nearly 2 1/2 years, as it took until Patrick Surtain‘s $24MM-AAV accord to top it last September. Alexander had missed most of the 2021 season, which did not slow him on the contract front, but has also been unavailable for extended stretches over the past two years. The former first-round pick has missed 10 games in each of the past two seasons, and the strange coin-toss incident in Carolina — which prompted a one-game Packers suspension — served as one of the memorable moments from this period.
The seven-year veteran is due a $16.15MM base salary in 2025. Given his limited participation over the past two seasons, the Packers are likely not keen on paying that. We heard shortly after the season Alexander’s 2024 season was likely his last in Green Bay. A matter of the Packers obtaining something in return now remains, as the Pro Bowler would be a release candidate otherwise. The Packers would create more than $6MM in cap space by trading Alexander; the move would come with more than $18MM in dead money, however.
Alexander’s likely exit will give the Pack more CB work to do this offseason. Eric Stokes, who did not justify his first-round status on his rookie deal, is on the verge of free agency. Keisean Nixon remains under contract, however. Former seventh-rounder Carrington Valentine, who has been needed regularly due to the first-rounders’ injury trouble, has two years left on his rookie pact.
Bucs GM: Team Aims To Keep Chris Godwin
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.