Because Chris Godwin previously suited up for head coach Liam Coen, the Jacksonville Jaguars seemed like a likely landing spot in free agency. However, the veteran wide receiver won't be hitting the open market, so the Jags will have to look for other ways to upgrade Trevor Lawrence's arsenal of weapons.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic broke the news on Bluesky that Godwin is re-signing with the Buccaneers. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media later added that he inked a three-year deal worth $66 million.
Back to the #Bucs: Star WR Chris Godwin returns to Tampa, sources say, taking less money to stay with Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and the rest of the gang.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2025
He gets a 3-year, $66M deal with $45 guaranteed in a deal done by Tory Dandy of CAA. And he left a ton on the table. pic.twitter.com/IYwDAhXx6x
The news doesn't come as a surprise, as Tampa Bay made it clear that it was committed to re-signing Godwin even though he was further back in his recovery from an ACL injury he suffered last year than expected.
A third-round pick in 2017, Godwin has spent his whole career with the Buccaneers, posting four 1,000-yard seasons and earning a Pro Bowl nod along the way.
Given that Godwin was having a career season under Coen before he got hurt in 2024, he was seen as a potential free-agent target for the Jaguars. It's also worth noting that the Jags just traded Christian Kirk to the Houston Texans. He mostly operated in the slot, so Godwin would've been a logical replacement.
That said, the Jaguars have Parker Washington in the fold. He showed last year that he's ready to step into a bigger workload on offense. And if the Jaguars don't sign anyone else in free agency, he could have a featured role in 2025.
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What's next for the Jaguars after missing out on Chris Godwin?
The truth is that Liam Coen would've been thrilled to coach Chris Godwin again, but missing out on him isn't a reason for concern. After all, the Jaguars need help opposite Brian Thomas Jr., not in the slot.
Aside from Chris Godwin, Cooper Kupp has also been linked to the Jaguars because he's worked with Coen and is familiar with general manager James Gladstone. If they want to get the 2021 All-Pro nod, they'll probably need to trade for him, and it's uncertain if the team's brass is willing to give up compensation on top of having to pay Kupp.
Having said that, there's no guarantee the Jaguars will address the wide receiver position in free agency. They have bigger needs, and it would make sense for them to tackle a few of them. They're in need of two interior offensive linemen, a cornerback, and a starting safety.
It would make sense for Jacksonville to bolster any of those positions rather than wide receiver in free agency. This isn't to say that the Jags won't sign a receiver, though. Maybe they will. In fact, they still have plenty of time. Heck, free agency hasn't started just yet, so don't be surprised if they get Trevor Lawrence help. It won't just be Chris Godwin, as he's back with the Buccaneers.
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