The Tampa Bay Buccaneers locked up Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield following a surprise playoff season, but these actions could signal a Chris Godwin trade. Now entering the final season of a three-year, $60 million deal signed back in 2022, the former third-round pick will receive a sizable payday at some point in the next 12 months. While he never duplicated his 1,300-yard 2019, the Penn State product is a perennial 1,000-yard receiver who can win as a slot receiver and a perimeter weapon.
The Buccaneers are a better team with Chris Godwin on the roster, but they might have no choice but to trade him. According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, the two sides have yet to discuss an extension, which implies Godwin isn’t in Tampa Bay’s long-term plans.
Buccaneers Haven’t Discussed Chris Godwin Extension, Trade Could Come
Financially speaking, the Buccaneers will struggle to match Godwin’s market value. The team went all-in on the final years of Tom Brady’s career, and while that decision resulted in a Super Bowl, it also led to quite a bit of dead money and poorly-aged contracts. This is a price you happily pay to hoist a Lombardi, but it increases the likelihood of a Chris Godwin trade.
Tampa Bay currently has just $10.4 million in cap space, and that’s with Baker Mayfield only carrying a $6.9 million cap hit. Next year, that number skyrockets to $35.7 million, so Tampa Bay won’t have much spending money next year if he continues to play well. With this in mind, the Buccaneers might decide to trade Chris Godwin instead of watching him walk for nothing at this point next year.
Possible Destinations
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have the worst collection of receivers in the league by a sizable margin. Ladd McConkey might turn into something, but the rest of the depth chart lacks any type of upside. Justin Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in the game, but he cannot throw and catch the ball. Chris Godwin would easily be the best receiver on this team, and a trade should give Herbert and head coach Jim Harbaugh enough firepower to make it to the playoffs.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills currently have an army of adequate weapons set to catch passes from Josh Allen. While Dalton Kincaid, Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, and second-round rookie Keon Coleman aren’t the worst group in the league, they should trade for a player like Chris Godwin. With the Tre’Davious White cut officially processed, Buffalo has the financial flexibility to make a big move that can help them compete with the Chiefs for conference supremacy.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs rebuilt depth chart is already falling apart. Rashee Rice will miss a sizable portion of the season due to a suspension while Xavier Worthy is already nursing a hamstring injury. Marquise Brown is a great deep threat, but he’s not the most versatile weapon in the world. Chris Godwin is a natural fit for this YAC-heavy offense and a trade should help the Chiefs make history as the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
New England Patriots
The Patriots are embracing the rebuild and will spend 2024 creating a foundation for the future. While this is a sound long-term strategy, it could lead to mixed results in 2024. Drake Maye will see the field at some point, and he’ll need a better supporting cast to succeed. Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker are completely unproven while veterans like Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osbourne are nothing to write home about. A Chris Godwin trade would improve Maye’s chances of succeeding at the professional level, and the Patriots have the cap space to sign him to a respectable extension.
Baltimore Ravens
Rashod Bateman is earning all the offseason hype and is in a position to finally play up to his first-round draft capital. Perhaps the hype is justified, but we’ve seen many an offseason hype train fail to reach its destination. If the all-in Ravens want more security at wide receiver, they’ll trade for Chris Godwin and plug him right into Odell Beckham’s old role. With Godwin, Mark Andrews, and Zay Flowers, Baltimore should once again make a deep playoff push.
Main Photo: Kim Klement Neitzel – USA Today Sports
