Chris Godwin And The Franchise Tag? Maybe Not Yet

March 8th, 2022

Free agent WR Chris Godwin

So there were reports all over the place yesterday that the Bucs plan to franchise tag receiver Chris Godwin. Jeremy Fowler of BSPN even said it was a 90 percent chance. But one national NFL writer says, hold up.

Rather than tagging Godwin for the second year in a row, which means the Bucs would have to pay him 120 percent of the price of a tag, there is still a chance at signing Godwin to a long-term deal. And apparently, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has not given up on that goal, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic.

Now this sounds like a plan. From what Joe remembers, Licht and Godwin’s camp negotiated down to the wire last year and Licht couldn’t get Godwin to sign a long-term deal so he franchised him. The franchise tag is at 4 p.m. today.

Joe has always maintained the Bucs could sign Godwin and then use the franchise tag on center Ryan Jensen. From many reports, and also from what Joe had heard in Indianapolis last week, Jensen will be a very popular man if he hits the open market.

And Joe will predict if the Bucs lose Jensen to free agency, you can forget about Tom Brady playing for the Bucs this fall. That’s all there is to it.

7 Responses to “Chris Godwin And The Franchise Tag? Maybe Not Yet”

  1. Tim Says:

    I think you can forget about Brady playing for the Bucs regardless. That ship has sailed.

  2. Hodad Says:

    That ship hasn’t sailed for Joe.

  3. Defense Rules Says:

    ‘And Joe will predict this: If the Bucs lose Jensen to free agency, you can forget about Tom Brady playing for the Bucs this fall. That’s all there is to it.’

    Statements like THAT are precisely why I sometimes wonder why I read sports talk at all. TOM BRADY HAS MOVED ON. He didn’t move on because of Jensen. I seriously doubt that Brady stays awake at night muttering ‘If the Bucs would just keep Jensen, I could come back, play another season for them, win another Super Bowl, then retire.’

    Tom Brady will soon be FORTY FIVE YEARS OLD. Duh … he’s got a right to retire. Tom Brady has all the money he could ever want. Duh … he’s got a right to retire & enjoy it & his family. And oh ya, Tom Brady rented the Bucs for 2 years (it works both ways) because they were SB contenders with him at the helm. Duh … that ship has sailed; we’re NOT SB contenders this year, even IF he was steering the ship. And he knows it. Duh … he’s The GOAT. GOAT’s know things.

    PLEASE stop with all this nonsense about Brady coming back to the Bucs. You all are making this franchise look PATHETIC.

  4. Allen Lofton Says:

    Brady is not playing for the Bucs or anyone

  5. Letsbuccinggo Says:

    Bradys done!!!!!!!! Give it up already.

  6. Ash Says:

    It would be insanely dumb to tag Jenson and pay him 16 mil for a 31 year center let that dude walk and get his last long term deal he deserves that but somewhere.else because with his play style doubt he finishes that contract out. Tag Davis going to be a big mistake to let that dude walk and very very unfortunate to tag Chris Godwin again

  7. Buczilla Says:

    Thank goodness, it looks like there could be a good outcome after all. Please no franchise tag. Chris is not worth it and it will put us in a bind this year and next when/if we tried to sign him long term again. Maybe use it if the intent is to trade him? Anyways, I’d much rather keep Chris at a number that’s fair for everyone than lose him.