3 dark horse trade targets for Cowboys after latest report
By Jerry Trotta
1. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers WR
Another potential rebuilding team, the Buccaneers have been shedding salary left and right to get under the cap for 2023. They’ve already released Leonard Fournette and Cameron Brate, and the latest buzz indicates left tackle Donovan Smith and linebacker Lavonte David could follow them out the door.
Amid Tampa Bay’s salary cap crunch, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggested moving on from Chris Godwin via trade.
You would think Mike Evans’ age (30) and the fact he’s entering the final year of his contract would make him the ideal trade candidate, but past restructures won’t allow the Bucs to maximize their cap savings: only $2.3 million by trading him before June 1. They’d save an addition $12.2 million by trading him after June 1, but the goal here is to get under the cap before the new league year in two weeks.
That’s where Godwin comes in. The Buccaneers would save $9 million against the cap by trading Godwin. It would also take his $20 million salary next season off the books. Shouldn’t Jason Licht at least take calls on the WR?
It’s hard to think of a better fit for Mike McCarthy’s offense than Godwin, who feasts on slants and underneath routes.
In 2021, Godwin logged 98 catches for 1,103 yards and five scores. Despite coming off a torn ACL suffered at the end of that season, he was as advertised in 2022 — something Michael Gallup was unable to do — posting 104 catches for 1,023 yards and three touchdowns.
