The idea of Chris Godwin landing with the Chiefs may be fun to toss around, but the Buccaneers don’t seem interested in entertaining it.
Tampa Bay has a loaded receiver room, which is part of why outsiders keep trying to poke holes in the roster and identify a name that could be moved. Godwin keeps coming up in those conversations, even though the Bucs have made it pretty clear they don’t plan to deal the fan favorite.
Still, Lyle Graversen of Arrowhead Addict floated the possibility of a trade involving Godwin and Kansas City, pointing to the veteran’s contract and recent injury history.
"Godwin is 30 years old and in the last year of his current deal with the Bucs, with a big $33.7 million cap hit this season. He does have a club option for 2027 that would come at about a $30 million cap hit. Godwin has missed part of the past two seasons with injuries, and the Bucs may not feel like they want to invest that much money in Godwin going forward."
There’s some logic there. Godwin has battled injuries and is no longer the young piece he once was. But Tampa Bay still expects him to play a major role this season, and his importance only grows with Mike Evans gone.
Graversen also laid out the main reason the Buccaneers are unlikely to move him.
"If the Bucs think they can compete for the NFC South, they may not want to deal Godwin before the season starts and would prefer to keep their solid group of wideouts intact for Baker Mayfield."
That’s the heart of it. The NFC South is there for the taking, and Godwin gives this offense its best shot at staying productive. Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Ted Hurst III are in the mix, but Godwin is still the piece that ties the group together.
If Tampa Bay starts the year in a disastrous way, maybe the conversation changes. Even then, with how weak the NFC South has been, the division could still be wide open.
For now, though, the Chiefs can dream all they want. Godwin looks like he’s staying put, and he may end up retiring a Buccaneer.
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Todd Bowles has already pointed to the second preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs as the point when Tampa Bays starters are expected to play, with rookie Rueben Bain Jr. also slated to make his debut. What remains unsettled is how much work the first unit will actually get, and that choice could land anywhere from a brief tune-up to a more extended run before the preseason schedule keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]