The Buccaneers’ 0-3 start has already pushed them into uncomfortable territory, and Baker Mayfield’s thumb injury only sharpens the pressure. With the season wobbling early, Tampa Bay may eventually have to make hard choices about veterans, and one of the names now floating into that conversation is Chris Godwin Jr.
ESPN’s Ben Solak tied the Pro Bowl wideout to a possible move to the Los Angeles Rams, writing, "Chris Godwin Jr. might get out of Tampa Bay as the 0-3 Buccaneers pivot to younger players," Solak writes.
That kind of idea lands with a sting because Godwin is exactly the sort of player a team usually wants to keep close. He’s a 30-year-old veteran, and his contract only runs through the 2026 season. He also has the ability to get out of his three-year, $66 million deal before 2027.
From a pure team-building angle, the logic is easy to follow. If Tampa Bay’s season is already slipping away, the front office could try to turn a veteran into draft value instead of waiting for the market to dry up. A mid-round pick from a Super Bowl contender would at least give the Buccaneers something tangible back.
At the same time, this would be a painful move for the organization. Godwin is a beloved franchise receiver, and the Buccaneers would almost certainly prefer not to move him. But the combination of possible cap savings and draft compensation makes the idea hard to ignore.
So the question now is less whether the thought makes sense and more whether Tampa Bay gets forced into it. Ahead of Week 4, a Godwin trade is at least on the board, especially with the Buccaneers sitting at 0-3 and Mayfield sidelined for a while.
In Other News...
Vikings Win May Have Changed The Buccaneers Season Fast
Baker Mayfields thumb injury has put the Buccaneers in an early-season spot they hoped to avoid after a Week 3 matchup with the Vikings that now carries more weight than the final score. Mayfield suffered a dislocated thumb and is expected to miss at least three weeks, leaving Tampa Bay to move ahead without its starting quarterback while the offense adjusts on the fly.
Rookie backup Jalon Daniels finished the game after Mayfield went down and now steps into the spotlight as the fill-in. Todd Bowles and Bruce Arians have both weighed in publicly on the injury and on Mayfields playing style, adding another layer to a situation that could quickly shape how the Buccaneers navigate the next stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Offense Just Took Another Hit They Couldnt Afford
The Buccaneers offense has already been stretched thin by Baker Mayfields thumb injury, and now it has taken another hit with wide receiver Jalen McMillan expected to miss 6-8 weeks after an MRI revealed a sprained PCL. Tampa Bay has been trying to keep its attack afloat without its starting quarterback, and losing another key pass catcher only adds to the pressure on a unit that has had to absorb one setback after another.
McMillans injury is a frustrating one for both the team and the player, especially with his early career already marked by missed time. For a Buccaneers offense trying to stay steady while Mayfield is out for at least three weeks, the timing could hardly be worse, and it leaves even more uncertainty around how the group will hold up in the coming stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Make Necessary Roster Move To Avoid A Safety Depth Squeeze
The Buccaneers made a practical early-season move at safety by signing Ifeatu Melifonwu to a one-year contract after using him on the practice squad and elevating him for the first three games. With the NFL limiting how many times a player can be elevated from the practice squad, Tampa Bay had to get Melifonwu onto the active roster if it wanted to keep him in the mix.
A roster spot cleared up with wide receiver Jalen McMillan likely headed to injured reserve, giving the Bucs the flexibility to make the switch without creating another squeeze elsewhere. For a team trying to manage its depth carefully in the opening stretch, keeping Melifonwu around became the priority, and the timing of McMillans status made the move possible. [Read more 🡒]