Although many big-name receivers are available in free agency, Chris Godwin is probably the top prize — now that Tee Higgins is again out of play. PFR’s No. 7 free agent in this year’s class, Godwin is indeed expected to draw major interest.
Leading the way in cap space, the Patriots are expected to be a lead the way in driving Godwin’s market, per the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi. Considering the work the Pats did at wide receiver last year, it is unsurprising they are readying for a major pursuit to help Drake Maye on a rookie contract.
Maye’s rookie deal plays into one of the strongest hands in free agency history. The Patriots lead the way in cap space, by a wide margin, with more than $125M. They chased Calvin Ridley last year, seeing the Titans outbid them, and explored the trade market. New England is believed to have submitted the top AAV to Brandon Aiyuk, at around $32M, but the late-summer trade chip opted to stay with the 49ers on an extension. With Pats target Higgins again franchise-tagged (and again being kept out of trades), the team may need to focus on Godwin.
The longtime Mike Evans sidekick’s price will be high, as the cap has climbed another $24M. The Godwin derby could go beyond $25M per year, Giardi adds, even though he is coming off a dislocated ankle. Godwin, who played out a three-year deal worth $60M, also suffered ACL and MCL tears in 2021 but responded with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Although Godwin was second in the NFL in receiving yards when he went down last year, as he had looked like his pre-ACL-tear version, a second major injury could induce some pause.
Godwin is going into an age-29 season and has four 1,000-yard years on his resume. The Super Bowl-winning wideout will have options. One of them appears to be a return to the Buccaneers, with Jason Licht expressing a desire to retain him once again. Franchise-tagged twice, Godwin has never hit free agency previously. The Bucs were able to keep Evans and Baker Mayfield off last year’s market, but time is running out here. Godwin can begin talking to other teams at 11 a.m. CT Monday. While the Bucs were able to convince Shaquil Barrett, Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean to re-sign after they had hit the market earlier this decade, Godwin’s price may be too high for a team still paying Evans and one that handed out market-setting deals at left tackle (Tristan Wirfs) and safety (Antoine Winfield Jr.) last year.
The Giants figure to need a Malik Nabers complementary piece, and the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy notes they were interested in Godwin as a trade target back in 2023. Though, Dunleavy expects the Giants to be priced out here. New York is still on the hook for more than $20M in Daniel Jones dead money, and its cap-space figure ($45M-plus) is dwarfed by the Patriots’ number.
