Imagine Ocean’s Eleven meets Friday Night Lights. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are pulling off a high-stakes heist, keeping their core intact while their quarterback, Baker Mayfield, transforms from a reclamation project into a bona fide superstar. But there’s a twist.

Their star receiver, Chris Godwin, is the hottest name on the free-agent market. Will the Bucs lock him down, or will rival teams swoop in like villains in a blockbuster finale?

According to MLFootball, Chris Godwin is projected to land a 3-year, 65 million deal this offseason. The 28-year-old receiver, a Super Bowl champ with four 1,000-yard seasons, has suitors like the Steelers, Commanders, Raiders, and Patriots circling. But the Bucs aren’t folding.

ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports Tampa is “willing to do whatever it takes” to keep Godwin, mirroring their aggressive approach with Mike Evans last year. “Sources told ESPN the Bucs absolutely want Godwin back… with no concern about his recovery from a dislocated left ankle in Week 7,” Laine wrote. But money talks.

At $22 million annually, Godwin’s deal could strain Tampa’s cap space—they’re already in the bottom third of the league. Do they splurge on offense or shore up a defense that ranked 23rd against the pass?

Godwin’s resilience is the stuff of NFL lore. He tore his ACL in 2021, dislocated his ankle in 2024, and still balled out for 572 yards and five touchdowns in just seven games. The Bucs have rewarded loyalty before—Lavonte David and Evans got Buc for life treatment. But this isn’t The Notebook. It’s a business.

Tampa’s 6-4 record without Godwin last season complicates things. New offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard’s ground-and-pound philosophy raises questions: Why pay two receivers $20+ million if you’re running more? At the end of the day, you want your highest-paid guys touching the ball, not waving pom-poms. But while Godwin’s future hangs in the balance, Baker Mayfield is writing his own underdog script.

Mayfield’s ascent: from bargain to elite

The Bucs’ $100 million gamble on him in 2023 paid off like a Rocky montage. In 2024, he threw for 4,500 yards (2nd in NFL) and 41 touchdowns (tied for 2nd), carrying Tampa to the playoffs despite losing Godwin and Evans for chunks of the season. And he is getting his recognition for it…

NFL.com’s Nick Shook ranked Mayfield 6th among QBs—ahead of Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. “Mayfield outdid himself this season, resetting his previous career highs in passing yards, touchdowns, and completion percentage,” Shook noted. Critics still nitpick. ‘He’s no Lamar Jackson‘, they say. But Baker’s response?

A shrug and a smirk. If Godwin walks, Mayfield loses his safety net. The Bucs’ offense leaned on unknowns like Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett late last year—a risky bet for a QB chasing a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, teams like Washington, desperate for a WR2 behind Terry McLaurin, see Godwin as their missing piece. Imagine Jayden Daniels slinging to Godwin: Chef’s kiss! But Tampa’s front office isn’t panicking.

They’ve turned Mayfield into a top-10 QB. Now, they’re playing 4D chess: Keep Godwin, and the offense stays explosive. Lose him, and trust Mayfield to elevate the next man up. Hence, Tampa Bay’s offseason hinges on two words.

Chris Godwin. Pay him, and they keep their ‘Avengers’ core intact. Let him walk, and Baker’s hero-ball act gets harder. Either way, Mayfield’s rise from castoff to elite is the NFL’s feel-good story—a reminder that redemption arcs aren’t just for movies.

As the great Vince Lombardi once said, “The price of success is hard work, dedication, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we’ve applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” For Godwin and Mayfield, that task starts now.