The Atlanta Falcons have enough to worry about in free agency but they also have to keep an eye on the rest of the NFC South. The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers don’t feel like immediate threats to win the division but the four-time defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain Atlanta’s biggest competition.
In one case, a top playmaker that has haunted the Falcons appeared to be on his way out of the division. But while he didn’t put pen to paper, he admitted it was a tough decision that could have made life easier as the Falcons look to end a seven-year playoff drought.
Falcons Killer Chris Godwin Admits He Was Close to Leaving Buccaneers in Free Agency
Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin agreed to a three-year, $66 million contract to stay with the team this week, but the decision wasn’t as simple as you would think. Godwin was closely linked to the New England Patriots in the days leading up to free agency and admitted he was close to leaving Tampa Bay for Foxborough.
“I mean, to be honest I feel like we were really close,” Godwin said during an interview on NFL Network Tuesday afternoon. “When it comes to a situation like that you have to really, really consider it. Me and [Godwin’s wife] Mariah, we had some really tough conversations. Had some really tough conversations with my agent. Because at the end of the day you’re trying to figure out what’s going to be best for our family. Not everybody would make that decision and I’m not faulting anybody that would.”
Chris Godwin joins @MikeGarafolo and I on the Insiders to talk returning to Tampa. #nflnetwork #bucs pic.twitter.com/6v8TS8r117
— Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh) March 12, 2025
Godwin later said that nine out of ten people would have chosen the Patriots deal over the offer he accepted with Tampa Bay, but there were several factors that went into his decision.
“At the end of the day, like I was mentioning in the presser, I have to go based off my gut. I have to go based off my intuition and what I think is going to be best for us in the long run. Being here, where we call home, where we feel the most comfortable, where we can raise our newborn son, I think all those things are big factors for us in making this decision.”
Buccaneers fans are happy to see Godwin return, but it becomes a hindrance for the Falcons. The 29-year-old has carved up Atlanta’s secondary during his career, posting a Pro Bowl line of 77 catches for 1,062 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games. He also had a solid game in his lone meeting with the Falcons, catching five passes for 64 yards in a game the Falcons won 36-30 in overtime on Oct. 3.
Godwin missed the second meeting between the Falcons and Buccaneers after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 21, but that won’t keep Atlanta from seeing him again. With three years on the deal, the Falcons will have to try to stop Godwin at least six more times, which could be a massive pain as they look to contend next season and beyond.