Steelers: 3 players new GM should sign with newfound cap space

An injury and quarterbacking instability could pry Chris Godwin out of Tampa Bay

This time a year ago, Chris Godwin was a lock to stay in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiving corps. After being an integral part of their Super Bowl 50 roster, Godwin was slapped with the franchise tag. While he did have a strong season for the Buccaneers, it was cut short after 14 games. He finished with 98 catches for 1,103 yards and five trips to pay dirt for Tampa Bay.

Could Tampa Bay franchise tag him again? The Buccaneers could, but Godwin would absolutely hate that. The former Penn State star may be interested in coming back to Pennsylvania in his free agency. All things equal, he is the better player over Steelers’ free agent wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. While the Steelers don’t have Big Ben, the Buccaneers no longer have Tom Brady either.

And that is where things get complicated for Godwin. The Buccaneers will regress without Brady. That is understood. The question is to what degree. If they trade for a Jimmy Garoppolo, maybe the contend for the division crown with the Atlanta Falcons? If not, they could be a sub-.500 team again. Ultimately, Godwin could exit stage left before things take a turn for the worse in Tampa.

Godwin is not a cure all for the Steelers’ receiving game, but he would be a terrific piece to add.