As options begin flying off the board, how will the New England Patriots fill their obvious need at wide receiver?
At the start of the offseason, there were lots of flashy options that seemed to be available. But Tee Higgins was franchise-tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals, and D.K. Metcalf was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
With no pass-catchers crossing the 700-yard mark last season, the Patriots have to begin feeling a sense of urgency to find a viable number-one receiver.
Enter longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin, who likely becomes the number-one free agent available even after suffering a dislocated ankle seven games into the 2024 season.
Before the official start of free agency, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport predicted that the Patriots would sign Godwin for a deal that would exceed $25 million in average annual value, dipping into their league-high $121 million cap space.
“$25 million is admittedly a lot to pay for a receiver coming off a serious injury. But from 2021 to 2023, Godwin peeled off three straight seasons with at least 80 receptions and over 1,000 yards,” Davenport wrote.
“New England has to improve Drake Maye’s weapons. And with the most cap space in the NFL, the Pats have the resources to win a bidding war and add the best wide receiver available.”
Godwin, 29, was on track for a career year in 2024, posting 576 receiving yards and five touchdowns in seven games. He’s got four 1,000-yard campaigns to his name, along with a 2019 Pro Bowl selection and 2020 Super Bowl ring.
Is it a risk to pay a premium for an eight-year veteran coming off a major ankle injury? Yes, but it’s also the kind of risk the Patriots may need to take to give Maye the tools he needs to succeed.