It's no secret that the New England Patriots have tried multiple avenues to acquire a No. 1 wide receiver for Drake Maye. The Patriots were targeting players in trades and free agency but came up short.
A recent interview highlighted the Patriots' effort in pursuing one of the top options on the market.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht appeared on 95.3 FM WDAE and AM620 and stated that a very aggressive offer was made to star wide receiver Chris Godwin.
"There were several teams that, you know, inquired, but then there was just one that just kept writing a blank check..."
Bucs GM Jason Licht confirms with @TKras that several teams were interested in Chris Godwin and that one team kept writing blank checks. Can you imagine the Bucs without Godwin? #iHeartRadio@TheChrisMathispic.twitter.com/rUOmD4voL9
— 95.3 WDAE & AM620 (@953WDAE) March 21, 2025
While the Buccaneers general manager never explicitly stated the Patriots had made such an offer, there has been reporting that New England had a very lucrative offer for Godwin.
In an article from Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, the Patriots were billed as the team that was "widely believed to have made Godwin a very lucrative offer."
New England tried their best to get Godwin, but he left a significant amount of money on the table to return to the Buccaneers. Godwin gave the Buccaneers a home-town discount, returning for less than the Patriots offered him.
The Patriots went all out for Godwin and had the best offer, but he declined and returned to Tampa. Licht's comments on New England's efforts only make Godwin's decision to decline the Patriots sting even more.
Now, New England must look elsewhere for wide receiver help. Stefon Diggs has visited the team, and Tyler Lockett remains on their radar. However, losing out on Godwin was a tough pill to swallow.
Related: Patriots' $104 Million Signing Details Chaotic Free Agency Period
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This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM.