The Tampa Bay Buccaneers successfully re-signed Pro Bowl wide receiver Chris Godwin, averting his potential departure to free agency.
Prolonged negotiations pushed up against the free agency deadline, sparking concerns that if Chris Godwin were to test the open market, the Buccaneers might struggle to match the lucrative offers from other teams.
General Manager Jason Licht ultimately secured Chris Godwin’s return to Tampa by inking a three-year, $60 million contract extension, featuring $44 million in guaranteed money.
In a candid interview with Mike Garafolo and Sara Walsh on NFL Insiders, Chris Godwin revealed that he was unexpectedly close to parting ways with the Buccaneers before ultimately re-signing.
“I mean, to be honest, I feel like we were really close (to leaving),” Godwin stated via NFL.com. “When it comes to a situation like that, you have to really, really consider it. Me and (his wife) Mariah, we had some really tough conversations. Had some really tough conversations with my agent. Because at the end of the day, you’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 I have to go based off my gut, I have to go based off my intuition and what I think is going to be best for us in the long run. Being here, where we call home, where we feel the most comfortable, where we can raise our newborn son, I think all those things are big factors for us in making this decision.”
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Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht, who has masterfully retained the team’s core talent, emphasized that the franchise must continually work to maintain the trust of its players.
“People always give us credit for betting on Chris during his injuries,” Licht said, via the Tampa Bay Times. “But he and Mariah bet on us and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that we make it right for you and chase another ring.”
“You’re supposed to stand here before fans and say I don’t get stressed and I have ice in my veins. But I don’t. It’s an emotional time. So it took everything out of me not to be texting Chris and be like you’re texting your girlfriend. My wife had to say, ‘Don’t push him.’ So when it got over with, it was an awesome moment.”
During Godwin’s press conference, General Manager Jason Licht admitted to enduring “sleepless nights” during negotiations. It’s now clear that those restless nights were justified, as Godwin had been seriously contemplating a departure from Tampa.
Fortunately, the Buccaneers were able to reach an agreement, ensuring Chris Godwin’s return in 2025. Before his season-ending ankle injury in Week 7, Godwin was on pace for a career-best year and will now rejoin the offense under Josh Grizzard’s direction.
The Buccaneers’ offense, led by Baker Mayfield, still averaged 29.5 points per game without Chris Godwin last season. Now, with Godwin reunited with Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan, Tampa’s attack is poised to be even more potent.
However, the franchise is well aware of how precarious Godwin’s situation was, with the star receiver seemingly on the verge of departing before ultimately signing an extension.
