Ex-Penn State Football WR Chris Godwin talks possible franchise tag

Former Penn State Football wide receiver Chris Godwin was instrumental to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, is one of the NFL’s premier players at his position, and could be primed to play under the franchise tag next season.

Godwin, 25, is set to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career next month, that is if the Buccaneers are unable to come to terms on a long-term pact and decline to use the franchise tag to retain him for one more season.

Most players bristle at playing under the franchise tag, despite it ensuring they are paid the average of the top-five salaries at their position, it comes without any long-term security.

However, Godwin does not seem primed to go to war with the Buccaneers organization if he is tagged, rather, vows to go to war with his teammates next season.

"“Yeah, I mean, the way I look at it, similar to like a lot of guys,” Godwin told MJ Acosta of NFL Media (via Pro Football Talk). “Obviously, we all want to have long-term security; we all want to be able to take care of the people that we love. So that’s the ideal situation. But, you know, a franchise tag is not something that I can control. If that’s what keeps me here, then that’s what it is. And I’ll play on it and go back to war with my guys. Like I said, I love it here in in Tampa. I love what we have building, and I would love to stay.”"

Godwin is becoming a free agent at the right time, catching 65 passes for 840 yards and seven touchdowns last season, despite battling a broken finger that kept him out for four games.

The Buccaneers will likely do everything in their power to avoid allowing Godwin to hit the open-market, but must also consider the ramifications of not tagging All-Pro linebacker Shaq Barrett. It certainly has the makings for an interesting few weeks for Godwin, leading up to the NFL’s new league-year beginning on March 17.