The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chris Godwin were a fascinating watch at the start of the offseason with Godwin set to become a free agent.
With the Buccaneers doing all they could to get Godwin to stay with the franchise, it didn't happen overnight, and there were real fears that maybe No. 14 would be on another team in 2025.
While Godwin would eventually re-sign on a three-year, $66 million deal, even in his press conference, he thought his time in Tampa might be up at one point in negotiations.
But what about general manager Jason Licht? Did he feel like he was going to lose Godwin?
"I did, and it's not a good feeling," Licht said on 95.3 WDAE. "Chris has meant a lot, he left a lot of money on the table, and he valued the culture here, the city, the fans, being able to retire, hopefully, as a Buccaneer, I think there's some value in that. But he was loyal to us, and I'll be forever grateful for the decision that he and Mariah made."
That "bad feeling''? It turned out all good.
Godwin, who saw his 2024 season end in Week 7 after a nasty ankle injury, was on pace to have his best-ever season as a pro, already totaling 576 yards and five touchdowns from seven games.
Forced to watch his team win the division again before being bounced in the playoffs by the Washington Commanders, Godwin will join an offense that saw rookie Jalen McMillan make giant strides in his absence to end up with eight receiving touchdowns.
Related: Bucs GM Jason Licht Praises Wideout After New Contract
The Buccaneers' 2025 outlook after the initial wave of free agency looks rather positive, but it could have all gone pear-shaped had Godwin not signed on the dotted line.
And it appears he was really close to doing just that.
Related: What's The 1 Word To Describe Bucs' Free Agency?
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This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 4:28 AM.