We often hear the saying, "Put your money where your mouth is," and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, we are about to see that play out over the next few weeks and months.
With Pro Bowl receiver Chris Godwin a free agent, there is a thought that given the rise of rookie Jalen McMillan, the Buccaneers might be willing to let him test the market.
However, we have repeatedly heard that the Buccaneers, through various sources, state that they want to keep Godwin and will have to prove it.
ESPN's Jenna Laine states that Tampa Bay has no desire to franchise tag Godwin, given the salary number he would command, reiterating the Buccaneers' desire to re-sign Chris by any means necessary.
"While sources told ESPN that the Bucs very much want receiver Chris Godwin back and will do what it takes to make this happen, it won't be by using the franchise tag," Laine writes. "They used the tag as a placeholder the last time Godwin was a free agent (in 2022), and they used it on him in 2021, so this would be his third time being tagged -- therefore it would have to be a 144% raise, and I'm told there is "no chance" of that happening. They'll do what it takes to re-sign him as a free agent."
So we take what Laine says at face value and the Buccaneers would be wise to try and retain Godwin, after all, he was on quite the pace before he got injured in Week 7.
Godwin averaged 82 yards per game and had five touchdowns in his seven outings, and he was on track to surpass 1,300 receiving yards. So he was in good form.
The question is how healthy he'll be coming back from his nasty ankle injury, but it appears that doesn't matter, with the Buccaneers going to move heaven and earth to make sure No. 14 stays in Tampa.
