Loyalty often takes a backseat to opportunity in the ever-shifting NFL landscape. But Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin bucked that trend, opting to stay with the Bucs — even when other teams reportedly offered staggering amounts of money to poach him.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht recently shared insight about how close Godwin was to leaving in free agency, including one team that “kept writing him blank checks.” Despite that, Godwin made the surprising decision to stay in Tampa, which speaks volumes about his priorities.
Bucs GM Jason Licht: ‘One Team Kept Writing Him Blank Checks’
On a recent appearance on WDAE radio, Licht pulled back the curtain on the tense free agency period that nearly saw Godwin walk.
“There were several teams that inquired, but there was one that kept writing him blank checks,” Licht said. “We got to a point of what we could do in order to keep everything together and add some pieces here, and he took it.”
Licht didn’t mention them by name out of professional courtesy, but one team with the cap space to hand Godwin a blank check is the New England Patriots, a team ESPN’s Adam Schefter said was “very interested” in the Pro Bowl receiver.
At the start of free agency, New England had north of $125 million in cap space and a wide receiver depth chart headlined by Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, rookie Ja’Lynn Polk, and newly signed free agent Mack Hollins from Atlanta. It’s a group lacking an actual No. 1 target — making the Patriots a team that clearly could’ve used the high-end talent and reliability Godwin would’ve brought.
Licht’s comments underscore the risk of losing one of Tampa’s most consistent offensive weapons.
Chris Godwin Walked Away From Big Money to Remain With Tampa Bay Buccaneers
According to multiple reports, Godwin may have left as much as $20 million on the table during free agency. The 28-year-old wideout had his fair share of suitors, and the offers were more than generous. Godwin, a key member of Tampa Bay’s 2020 Super Bowl run, had every reason to test the market, especially after years of playing on a franchise tag and a three-year, $60 million extension signed in 2022.
On NFL Network, Godwin admitted just how close he came to leaving.
Chris Godwin joins @MikeGarafolo and I on the Insiders to talk returning to Tampa. #nflnetwork #bucs pic.twitter.com/6v8TS8r117
— Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh)
“I feel like we were really close,” he said. “When it comes to a situation like that, you have to really, really consider it. Me and Mariah, we had some really tough conversations. I had some really tough conversations with my agent.”
“Because at the end of the day, we’re trying to figure out what’s going to be best for our family. Not everybody would make that decision and I’m not faulting anybody that would, but at the end of the day I have to go based off my gut, I have to go off my intuition.”
Bucs Keep Their Core Intact
Godwin’s decision greatly boosts the Buccaneers’ chances of remaining competitive in the NFC South. With quarterback Baker Mayfield around for the foreseeable future and other core players like Mike Evans staying put, Tampa Bay has kept its nucleus intact without going overboard on spending.
For Godwin, the move was about more than football—it was about family, familiarity, culture, and long-term fit. His choice to stay in Tampa speaks volumes in a league where money commonly trumps loyalty.
