ESPN analyst says what needs to be said about Chris Godwin's future with the Bucs heading into free agency

One of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' biggest questions of the offseason is whether or not it's able to get a deal done with star wide receiver Chris Godwin.

The main and obvious reasons why the Bucs want to bring him back are because he's a hell of a player and teammate. There's also an important financial aspect: As of Monday, Godwin's $18.852 million cap hit is officially on the books, so if the Bucs can't extend/re-sign him, then he'll count as much against the salary cap despite his presence on another team.

From an overall standpoint, staying in Tampa Bay makes the most sense. Godwin is beloved by both the franchise and the community and the feeling is reciprocated on his end. He's also on one of the best offenses in the league and if he returns, along with guard Ben Bredeson, then the Bucs will retain their starting 11 from last year. The only difference will be new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, the guy that took over for Liam Coen.

Grizzard's offense will be similar to that of Coen's and in case it's been forgotten, Godwin was on pace to set career-highs across the board before his season-ending injury. ESPN's Matt Bowen believes the same, as he recently listed the Bucs as the best fit for Godwin:

5. Chris Godwin, WR

Best team fit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Staying in Tampa Bay and continuing to work alongside Mike Evans would be the right move for Godwin. Before suffering a season-ending left ankle injury in Week 7, Godwin's 50 receptions over the first seven games were the most in the NFL. He's a savvy and proven route runner with the toughness to work the heavy-traffic areas of the field for quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Godwin's injury is another factor in all this. No one really knows exactly how far along he is and his medicals will certainly play some kind of role in the process. Teams will want to know his return-to-action timeline and if it's not aligned with a conducive process then they could easily look in a different direction.

Regardless, the main line of thinking from credible sources is Godwin returns in 2025, whether it's a one-year deal or a multi-year deal. I have my doubts in particular, but I'm definitely in the minority when pertaining to this context.

Either way, the fit makes sense. Now it's about trying to make it happen.