Earlier this offseason, there was a period where Chris Godwin leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like a real possibility.
Keeping Godwin was a key objective, if not the No. 1 priority for the front office this offseason. Thankfully, that mission was accomplished, but it wasn't due to a lack of competition on the open market.
According to Dan Pompei at The Athletic, the Pittsburgh Steelers were at the front the line of teams trying to pry Godwin away from Tampa Bay.
“Four other teams wanted Godwin, with the Patriots and Steelers at the forefront, according to Godwin,” wrote Pompei. “The Bucs made their best offer, and then the Patriots came hard, offering an average of $30 million per year on a multiyear deal, he says. And it’s possible there was more juice to be squeezed there. The Buccaneers’ offer was for three years at $66 million, averaging $22 million per season.”
It has long been known that Godwin passed on a Godfather offer from New England to stay home in Tampa Bay, but the revelation, coming from Godwin himself, that the Steelers were also at the forefront is a new and intriguing storyline.
Chris Godwin almost caught passes from Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh
At the time, the Steelers' quarterback situation was quite uninspiring, which could've impacted Godwin's decision to turn down Pittsburgh. But with the Steelers recently signing Aaron Rodgers, it's interesting to ponder the idea of Godwin teaming up with the four-time MVP, Super Bowl champion, and future Hall of Famer.
After missing out on Godwin, the Steelers quickly pivoted and made a trade with the Seattle Seahawks for DK Metcalf.
Godwin's playstyle differs greatly from Metcalf, and frankly, Godwin would've been a much better fit for Rodgers at this stage of his career. While Metcalf shines as a downfield threat, Godwin would've served as a security blanket in the short and intermediate passing game, which Rodgers is known to take advantage of.
Godwin would've likely played a role similar to Davante Adams in his prime, where he was peppered with targets from Rodgers and was consistently one of the league's most productive receivers.
Landing Godwin would've been an outstanding move for the Steelers, and they were smart to pursue him heavily. But losing Godwin would've been an absolute disaster for the Buccaneers, given how much he contributes both on the field and in the community. Fortunately, thanks to Godwin’s loyalty and the front office’s persistence, any chance of him suiting up for another team has been put to rest, at least for now.
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