Buccaneers' Chris Godwin was 'really close' to leaving Tampa Bay in free agency

Although his deal with the Bucs came together in the end, there was a point when Chris Godwin believed he would be suiting up for a different team next season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin greets the fans after they beat the Washington Commanders. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

When free agency officially kicked off on Monday, it didn't take long for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to come to an agreement with their star receiver Chris Godwin on a new 3-year, $66 million contract.

On Tuesday, Godwin was present at the Buccaneers' facility for a joint press conference with the team's general manager, Jason Licht, to discuss the decision. As he always is, Godwin was thoughtful, articulate, and appreciative when discussing his decision to stay in Tampa Bay.

READ MORE: Jason Licht receiving national praise for his performance as Buccaneers GM

After the press conference had concluded, Godwin was kind enough to give some additional time to a few different reporters in a more intimate interview environment. One of those was a video interview with Sara Walsh and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. And although Godwin was equally as delightful during this interview as he was during his presser, he did unveil a very interesting detail about his decision.

When asked whether or not he believed there was a chance he might be playing in a different uniform next season, Godwin responded, "I mean, to be honest, I feel like we were really close (to leaving),"

Chris made a point of going into specific detail regarding how many moving parts need to be considered when making such a significant decision.

"When it comes to a situation like that, you have to really, really consider it. Me and Mariah, we had some really tough conversations. Had some really tough conversations with my agent. Because at the end of the day, you're trying to figure out what's going to be best for our family. Not everybody would make that decision, and I'm not faulting anybody that would."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin greets the fans after they beat the Washington Commanders. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

That said, when push came to shove, Godwin made the decision to stick with his gut, and do what felt right.

"But at the end of the day, like I was mentioning in the presser, I have to go based off my gut, I have to go based off my intuition and what I think is going to be best for us in the long run. Being here, where we call home, where we feel the most comfortable, where we can raise our newborn son, I think all those things are big factors for us in making this decision."

Since he signed with the Bucs, it has been reported that Chris Godwin left roughly $20 million on the table when he decided to stay in Tampa Bay as opposed to signing elsewhere. Although Godwin has admitted that he seriously considered his options, it's obvious that his heart remains with the team that drafted him.

---

READ MORE: Buccaneers agree to $14 million deal with All-Pro pass rusher

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2025 offseason.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook

More Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

• Chris Godwin could be getting too expensive for Buccaneers

• Buccaneers re-sign key safety depth piece ahead of 2025 free agency

• Which NFL Draft prospect has been mocked to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the most?

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 mock offseason