A What-If Night For Chris Godwin
February 8th, 2026
Chris Godwin
Joe wonders what is going through Chris Godwin’s head today.
The iconic Bucs receiver is about to embark on his 10th season in Tampa. He’ll be in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor one day. But Year 9 for Godwin in Tampa was a question mark. Significantly injured as 2025 free agency approached last March, Godwin briefly hit the open market.
Bucs officials were nervous.
Many reports had the Patriots and new head coach Mike Vrabel offering Godwin $30 million annually on a multi-year deal, far more than the Bucs put on the bargaining table.
Obviously, Godwin re-signed in Tampa. He didn’t reference the Patriots specifically, but Godwin publicly acknowledged the free agency reports and talked about how money isn’t everything and staying put was more important to him than chasing a fatter check.
Today, those same Patriots are in the Super Bowl.
They’re also in the Super Bowl with a hearty helping hand from 2025 free agent receiver Stefon Diggs, who played in every game and racked up 1,013 yards on 85 receptions. The 32-year-old potential Hall of Famer also has 11 catches in this postseason. (If you don’t believe Diggs is a candidate for Canton, then you haven’t looked at his numbers.)
Godwin is a live-in-the moment kind of guy, but he’s still human. At some point today, doesn’t Godwin have to have at least one thought about what his season might have looked like in New England?
Joe also wonders if Godwin passed on the Patriots, in part, because the team was coming off a four-win season. Regardless, today’s Super Bowl matchup is a good lesson in how no NFL team is that far away from greatness.
February 8th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Kinda kid like thinking.
If Godwin went to the Pats, that would have changed every decision that team made this year and before the season started. From FA choices to calls on fourth down.
Could they be in the Super Bowl? Maybe but prob not.
Good chance that team isn’t the same, even with a superstar like Godwin
February 8th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
So off topic but James Pierce Jr. Just got arrested for a whole lotta bad stuff including domestic violence and resisting. THIS is why we didn’t draft him. Hopefully he can turn it around, but it’s not a good look for sure.
February 8th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
The falcons edge rush stinks again. You truly hate to see it.
February 8th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
I would have to believe that the extreme cold in New England would’ve affected his past and current injuries. If pain in his leg was too much for him to play on in warm weather, then just imagine what it would’ve been in cold weather. Money wise $30 million/yr in Boston would be about $24-$26 million compared to Florida because of MA state income tax and their higher cocost of living. Having another shot at ring is another story though.
February 8th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
That is an interesting take, Deeboo. You are referring to the Butterfly Effect. You must have seen the Movie.
February 8th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
The Patriots are far from great. The overall quality of the league has certainly diminished.
February 8th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
It’s clear that Godwin has to be ecstatic, choosing Todd Bowles over Mike Vrabel. Anyone with eyes can see that the Bucs have the superior head coach, best in the NFL.
February 8th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
He wants to be here
February 8th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Chris Godwin did what he thought was best for his family
In that regard, he made the right decision
I’m still confused about Nick Emmanwori
I thought for sure he wouldn’t make it to 19 during the draft
There was nothing negative about him, everything positive
And he still slid to the 2nd round
I thought he was a Top -15 draft pick
He had Top -15 talent, attitude, work habits
I don’t understand these GMs in the NFL
February 8th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
Glad Chris is still with us. He’s going to be invaluable bringing the youngsters along and more importantly hes still “that guy” on the field!
I thought he looked great – better than I expected after getting back on the field.
February 8th, 2026 at 3:09 pm
They dont get us Lakeland…..i was pushing Schwesinger too (with Emman) but oh well. Styles might be there. Anyways, Godwin if 100 percent was a great signing at the time, but can he stay 100 the whole season.
February 8th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
I’m glad Chris is still with us also. He played in 9 games this past season. Struggled in the first 5 games; caught 16-of-31 targets (barely 50%) for 194 yds & 0 TDs, but in his last 4 games he caught 17-of-20 (85%) for 166 yds & 2 TDs.
Now that he’s back to 100% I’m convinced that he’ll have an excellent 2026.
February 8th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
Styles you can plug and play Pro Bowl level for 10-12 years. Go up and get him to draft #10. Can be done if Licht really wants to make it happen. Foolish if Bucs don’t try.
February 8th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
Godwin is a shell of the player fans think he is
Same with Evans
I absolutely love them as human beings and what they have accomplished and mean to the franchise.
Mega cap space Goliath’s
One under contract and the other at the bargaining table.
Injuries and age
Gotta get younger and better
February 8th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
Chris Godwin has NOT earned a Buccaneers Ring of Honor spot…yet.
February 8th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
Gipper, Styles who. If he offense? If so, we better not move up for him. We need Defense in the first round.
February 8th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Excuse my typos
February 8th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
He blew it. Pats will win SB.
February 8th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
February 8th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
Gipper, Styles who. If he offense? If so, we better not move up for him. We need Defense in the first round.
==================================
Sonny Styles is OSU LB 6’4″ 238wght. 40 4.52…..Second best LB in 2026 draft behind teamate Arvel Reese. Reese will go in top 5. Styles probably in next 5.
February 8th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Can’t have $40+ mill tied up in injured WRs
Bad cap MGMT by Licht. He should’ve let one go by now.
Emotions? That’s why we’re losers. Licht sucks out loud.
February 8th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
@Lakeland
There are so many players on D that I would’ve drafted on D over the last couple of years that would’ve helped this team. Bur of course it won’t matter as long as Bowles has something to do with the D.
NICK EMMANORI
CARSON SCHWESINGER
MAXX CROSBY
TREY HENDRICKSON
QUINYON MITCHELL
KAMREN KINCHENS
JARED VERSE
BRADEN FISKE
KOBIE TURNER
BRADLEY CHUBB
PAT SURTAIN
I could keep going but I won’t because there’s more.
February 8th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
“Can’t have $40+ mill tied up in injured WRs
Bad cap MGMT by Licht. He should’ve let one go by now.
Emotions? That’s why we’re losers. Licht sucks out loud.”
You can’t have EVERYthing come down to dollars and cents
February 8th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
He blew it.
February 8th, 2026 at 5:06 pm
That last line in the article is what the NFL can stand for, good or bad is Not For Long. Some franchises make some great choices and others bad to go against that but New England is a great example
February 8th, 2026 at 5:06 pm
Yes and when I hear these “sports anchors” from other cities claiming Tampa Bay is going to trade Godwin I think this dude gave up millions to stay in Tampa. I seriously doubt the organization would trade him unless Godwin asked for it. He showed loyalty to the team and the bucs are known to be loyal to players like that. If he changed his mind and decided he wanted to move on I would hate it BUT I would support him . He’s earned it and then some.
I honestly believe the Bucs will have a top 5 offense next season. I do think they need a guard though and possibly a T.E..
As always Go Bucs!!!!
February 8th, 2026 at 5:54 pm
buccintimeforchanges Says:
February 8th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Can’t have $40+ mill tied up in injured WRs
Bad cap MGMT by Licht. He should’ve let one go by now.
Emotions? That’s why we’re losers. Licht sucks out loud.
——–
You’re a retard.
God bless.
February 8th, 2026 at 5:57 pm
Is there anyone hyped for this Super Bowl?
Two defensive teams, boring, dull, completely lack anyone interesting on either side. I’m watching but only because it’s the last game of the season – and I know I’ll be jonesing for football soon, but man, on paper, does this game look boring.
Hopefully I’m wrong and we get an exciting game.
If I cared enough to bet, I’d take the Pats and the points. Impossible to believe Darnold won’t fall flat on his face in the biggest moment of his life, but who knows – if he does it, maybe there is even hope for Baker.
February 8th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
Fire Todd
February 8th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
Godwin may just be back on the hunt for a new team after 2026, if he doesn’t return to his pre-injury form….His contract has a team option for 2027 & they could get out from under his $29M cap hit & save $13M as pre-June 1 cut or $22M as a post-June 1 designation… (after costing the Bucs $33.6M in 2026 cap space).
We could very well be seeing the last of Godwin in a Bucs uniform in 2026, his age 30 season…If he doesn’t show-out…It’s likely bye-bye. Bucs cannot continue overpaying for the age-performance slide just because a player is a long time Buc & used-to-be a very good player.
Frankly, that’s my #1 dig on Licht…He’s too loyal to aging Bucs Vets & doesn’t get out a year early vs a year or two too late!!! The deal he gave Godwin before the 2025 season – after the ankle injury & with no real idea if CG would be the same WR he was before the injury – will hamstring the organization if CG doesn’t return the his former glory…If he’s not the same player – it will be seen a huge waste money.
I now fear he will do the same with Mike Evans & LVD, who are clearly sliding down the age-performance hill & no where near the players they were 2yrs ago.
February 8th, 2026 at 6:45 pm
The only issue with Licht was not getting a legit backup QB option, and allowing Bowles to run ff Trask while keeping a stiff like ‘Hospital Ball’ Bridgewater.
Baker Mayfield is the sole reason the Bucs missed the playoffs. He single handedly ruined the season with his awful play in the 2nd half of the season — that never gave the Bucs a chance. Had there been a legit backup option, and the Bucs benched Baker for a few games, it likely would have changed the season completely.
Meanwhile the low IQ idiots thinking you don’t need elite WRs, you can just get by with anyone you sign off the practice squad that week – well, you’re morons who have no idea what you’re watching. The same dopes who think $20M a year for a WR is expensive – again, completely clueless.
February 8th, 2026 at 7:03 pm
I remember the people here celebrating trading away Carlton Davis, talking about how the Bucs totally took advantage of the Lions by getting a 3rd rounder.
And to think Davis was traded away solely because he called out Bowles for running that garbage zone defense – and pointed out how the Bucs won a SB playing aggressive man-to-man defense and the team was literally built to run that scheme, not to sit back in a passive zone.
February 8th, 2026 at 7:33 pm
Hey, just think of where we’d be if we had a pass rush like Seattle. But hey, pass rush is over rated, right? Better to have “pressures “.
February 8th, 2026 at 7:41 pm
Who cares? He re-signed with us… and our defense couldn’t get us to the playoffs.
February 8th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Idk if you can say it was just our D…… Offense really couldn’t finish games after week 7.
I’ll agree to disagree and say all 3 phases could have played better
February 8th, 2026 at 7:52 pm
Co-Z Coolman Says:
February 8th, 2026 at 7:41 pm
Who cares? He re-signed with us… and our defense couldn’t get us to the playoffs.
———–
In reality, the defense did its job.
Over the final 6 games…
The Bucs were 10th in scoring defense.
The Bucs were 26th in scoring offense.
One person, Baker Mayfield, tanked the season, cost the Bucs the playoffs.
February 8th, 2026 at 8:18 pm
If my grandma had a …. She would have been my grandpa. Woulda shoulda coulda. Life has a way of working out the way it’s supposed to.
February 8th, 2026 at 11:28 pm
It’s always the QB’s fault when teams lose…
Regardless of having practice team worthy Guards protecting him…Or WR’s playing with the dropsies…Or when Kirk Cousins & Bijan Robinson carve up the DEF…Or a Rookie MIA QB finds a way to beat the Bucs…Or NE’s Treyvon Henderson runs for 147yds & 2 tuddies on 14 carries…Or BUF scores 44pts in <25 minutes of clock (while Allen throws 2 ints to Bakers 1)…Or Baker has a pick-6 vs the Rams where Otton juggles the ball right into a DB's hands in the 1st half a blowout loss in LA where Bucs were down 31-7 before Mayfield threw a legit Pick on hail mary w/ 5sec left in the half.
Of course it's all Baker's fault…Because the DEF did their jobs…Right Munch?
February 8th, 2026 at 11:32 pm
Defense rules. Totally agree. Godwin will go off next season.
February 9th, 2026 at 12:17 am
Rod Munch Says:
February 8th, 2026 at 6:45 pm
“The only issue with Licht was not getting a legit backup QB option, and allowing Bowles to run ff Trask while keeping a stiff like ‘Hospital Ball’ Bridgewater.”
I 100% agree with this.
“Baker Mayfield is the sole reason the Bucs missed the playoffs.”
This I do not agree with. But that’s okay. We’ve been known to agree and disagree in the past 😉
While I do feel Baker is one element of it, I also feel the defensive forced him to take chances.
And the oline failed to protect him from getting injured.
A lot of things went wrong last season. I don’t blame ane one person.