Chris Godwin is a staple in both the Tampa Bay Bucs locker room and their community. His charity work, paired with his effort and drive on the field, has made him a fan favorite. He re-signed with the team after hitting the market this past offseason and turning down more money elsewhere. As a result, he came back to a loaded Bucs’ offense with a lot of expectations that they sadly didn’t meet.
That is why Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox listed him among players he wished were in different spots this season. He acknowledges that Godwin always should have stayed with Tampa Bay, but he wonders what it would be like had he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars by following his former offensive coordinator, Liam Coen.
Knox writes, “To be clear, Chris Godwin returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers always felt right. The 29-year-old has battled back from 2024’s season-ending leg injury and been a fairly impactful contributor in his seven games this season. However, we kind of wish he had found a new opportunity in free agency instead. . .Had the Jags landed Godwin in free agency, they may have still made the play for Hunter, but probably wouldn’t have felt the need to deal for Meyers. Godwin, meanwhile, might be shining with a top playoff contender instead of being a bit player in an underwhelming Buccaneers offense.”
Godwin has been the center of speculative trade ideas for a few weeks now due to the packed wide receiver room that Tampa Bay boasts. Could he find his way to playing elsewhere in 2026? Perhaps. Regardless, the Bucs may be hard pressed to part with the fan favorite veteran.