Since being drafted in the third round in 2017, Chris Godwin has grown up inside the Tampa Bay Buccaneers building, developing into a Pro Bowl receiver, winning a Super Bowl with Tom Brady, and becoming one of the team’s most respected locker room leaders. Through injuries, scheme changes, and quarterback turnover, Godwin stayed. So when free agency arrived in 2025, and teams came calling with massive offers—including one that could have made him one of the league’s highest-paid receivers—his heart didn’t move. And neither did he.

That’s not to say the offers weren’t real. According to The Athletic’s Dan Pompei, the New England Patriots were all-in. They reportedly put a deal worth $30 million per year on the table—a number Godwin’s agent described as “generational money.” But as Godwin weighed his options, the decision turned into a family one. “If I ended up going to New England, it would have been solely based off money because everything else was telling me to stay here,” he told Pompei. After talking it over with his wife, Mariah, the couple agreed: Tampa Bay was still home. Godwin re-signed for three years and $66 million—nearly $8 million per year less than New England’s offer.

His move caught the league off guard and started churning the rumour mills. While speaking on The Pat McAfee Show during the first day of free agency, NFL insider Ian Rapoport revealed the wideout had strong demand. “From my understanding, Chris Godwin left about $20M on the table. I know New England was in on him pretty heavy. . .he clearly liked where he was in Tampa Bay,” Rapoport said. Months later, Godwin finally addressed the noise in the Athletic interview, putting speculation to rest and confirming his loyalty to the Bucs.

According to a recent X post, he left a significant amount of money behind. The post highlighted, “Good story from @DanPompei here on @Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin—who confirms he left a LOT of money on the table to stay in Tampa. Per Godwin, the @Patriots offered him $30 million per before he signed a three-year, $66 million deal with the Bucs.”

The Patriots’ interest likely stemmed from an attempt to boost their roster. Despite offers from five teams, Chris Godwin called Tampa “the perfect place for me and who I am.” Four other teams pursued the wideout hard, with the Patriots and Steelers making aggressive pushes. Even as the Buccaneers were tight on cap space after giving Mike Evans a deal worth over $25 million in 2025, they managed to bring Godwin back on a smaller contract.

Still, the decision was not easy. “I mean, to be honest, I feel like we were really close (to leaving),” Godwin said on NFL Network’s The Insiders. “When it comes to a situation like that, you have to really, really consider it. Me and Mariah (his wife), we had some really tough conversations.”

Godwin had addressed the situation clearly during a press meeting earlier. “I think what it boiled down to, honestly, was family and just staying true to who I am,” he said. “I feel like nine out of 10 people in this position wouldn’t have necessarily made this decision that I did, but I don’t do the things I do based on what other people would do. I trust my gut, I stay true to who I am. And one thing I’ve never done is make any decisions solely based on the money.” His words made it clear that loyalty and identity mattered more than a payday.

But none of these reasons were enough to deter him from his team. Then the Patriots came hard, offering an average of $30 million per year on a multiyear deal, he says. And it’s possible there was more juice to be squeezed there. But he chose to stay.

Why Chris Godwin chose Tampa over a bigger payday

General manager Jason Licht has worked wonders keeping Tampa Bay’s core intact. He believes trust must be earned again each season. “People always give us credit for betting on Chris during his injuries,” Licht told the Tampa Bay Times. “But he and Mariah bet on us and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that we make it right for you and chase another ring.” Licht admitted the stress of waiting was real. “You’re supposed to stand here before fans and say I don’t get stressed and I have ice in my veins. But I don’t. It’s an emotional time.”

All this goes to show that Godwin built strong bonds in the locker room. His loyalty has paid off on the field as well. From his rookie year, he was treated like family. Mike Evans welcomed him as a teammate, not a threat. During Godwin’s first season as a starter, he recorded 19 more catches and 176 more receiving yards than Evans.

At that point, Evans was already a three-time Pro Bowler with five straight 1,000-yard seasons. “Not a single time throughout that year did Mike mention anything to me or anybody about the targets I was getting and the success that I was having,” said Godwin. “You would expect some kind of animosity, like, ‘Hey, if I’m your guy, why is he getting all of that?’” Fans get to see a rare glimpse behind the curtains of the locker room.

For Godwin, that bond is for life. He hopes to keep suiting up alongside Evans. Keeping him on a team-friendly deal allows Licht to make smart roster moves as Tampa aims for a fifth straight NFC South title.