Heading into the NFL offseason, the New England Patriots faced a roster riddled with weaknesses, with their wide receiver group standing out as a critical area of concern. Coming off a season with the league’s weakest receiving unit, the Patriots were clearly eager to snag a premier wideout from the free-agent pool.
However, their hopes were dashed early on. Tee Higgins was locked up by the Cincinnati Bengals with the franchise tag, while Chris Godwin opted to stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—the only NFL team he’s ever played for—signing a three-year, $66 million deal, despite reportedly receiving a heftier offer elsewhere.
Just how much more were the Patriots willing to pay? ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has a theory that might surprise you. “Considering Godwin’s final contract landed at three years and $66 million, it’s fair to guess the Patriots were dangling something near $30 million per year to make the 29-year-old their go-to receiver,” Barnwell speculated.
That’s a hefty sum for Godwin, who has never truly been a top-tier No. 1 option while sharing the spotlight with Mike Evans in Tampa and is recovering from a significant ankle injury that sidelined him for the latter half of last season. Still, the Patriots’ desperation for offensive firepower makes their willingness to splurge understandable.
What stings is that Godwin rejected New England’s aggressive bid. While discouraging, it’s not entirely shocking—Godwin seems genuinely content with the Buccaneers and may have been set on staying put no matter the offer.
Instead, the Patriots pivoted, signing Mack Hollins to a two-year deal later that Monday. It’s a far cry from landing an elite talent like Godwin, though. How New England adjusts from here remains to be seen.
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