Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has heaped praise on wide receiver Chris Godwin after the 29-year-old elected to remain with the team he was drafted by back in 2017.
By all accounts, there were plenty of interested parties keen on bringing in the former Super Bowl winner, but despite the very real temptation to start afresh, he decided to stick with Tampa Bay after an injury-interrupted season.
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Godwin signed a three-year deal worth $66 million but could have arguably made a lot more had he left in the free agency, and a move was seemingly very close to completion, with the Delaware-born talent stating,
“I feel like we were really close.”
“When it comes to a situation like that, you have to really, really consider it. Me and Mariah, we had some really tough conversations. Had some really tough conversations with my agent. Because at the end of the day, we’re trying to figure out what’s going to be best for our family. Not everybody would make that decision, and I’m not faulting anybody that would, but at the end of the day, I have to go based off my gut; I have to go off my intuition.” Godwin added.
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Licht was at pains to concede that an exit was close to being completed and made a point of applauding Godwin’s decision to stay,
“There 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.”
“A man of character,”
“We’re so fortunate to have him,” Licht commented.
Godwin has progressed well at the Raymond James Stadium. In 2019, he hit a career-high 1333 receiving yards in the regular season and earned a first Pro Bowl pick as a result. The following season, with Tom Brady in place, he played his part in securing the first Super Bowl triumph for Tampa Bay in 18 years.
The New England Patriots were apparently the team that came closest to luring Godwin away, but their loss is most definitely Tampa’s gain.
Having failed to get to the postseason for 12 successive seasons between 2008 and 2019, the Buccaneers have now made it to the playoffs for five seasons in a row, and Todd Bowles will look to his team as they push to make a more concerted impact in 2025.
A lot will depend on the continued improvement shown by quarterback Baker Mayfield, who put up great numbers in 2024. He managed 4500 regular-season passing yards and 41 touchdowns, both of which are personal bests for the 29-year-old, and Godwin will look to continue to combine well with the two-time Pro Bowl pick.
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