Dawgs By Nature
Analyzing WR Chris Godwin as a potential free agent signing for Cleveland
The Cleveland Browns are heading into the offseason with a few important goals, and one of them is to ensure that they make things easier for whoever ends up playing quarterback for the team going forward.
This year’s free agent class is full of quality options who could fit what the Browns are looking for at the wide receiver position and it’s imperative to add at least two of them in 2025.
One of the most intriguing prospects for the team based on their route-running prowess and reliability is WR Chris Godwin, who’s been a key contributor for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the past eight seasons. His ability to come in and immediately upgrade the floor of the wide receiver room could make him a big target for Cleveland when the free agency period opens next month.
Name
Chris Godwin
Position
Wide Receiver
6’1”, 208 Lbs.
Stats
2024: 7 games: 50 recs., 576 rec. yards, 11.5 Y/R, 5 TDs, 33 1st-downs
Career: 111 games: 579 recs., 7266 rec. yards, 12.5 Y/R, 39 Tds, 375 1st-downs
Final year of a 3-year, $60M contract
Godwin has been an upper-echelon-type receiver for the Buccaneers since the 2018/2019 seasons and he has the skillset and experience to operate both in the slot and outside for the Browns. Kevin Stefanski has always favored these kinds of pass-catchers over players who are “locked in” to a specific spot.
He’ll be coming off an injury in 2025 but his overall production and playmaking ability speaks for itself. Godwin will be one of the more realistic options for Cleveland among the upper-tier free-agent wide receivers in the ‘25 cycle.
As of right now, Godwin wouldn’t necessarily impact anybody because he’d immediately come in and be a top 2 receiver on the team. Depending on how Cleveland’s offense looks in 2025 and what personnel packages the team spends more time in, Cedric Tillman could see some of his “X” snaps taken away when the Browns are in 12P looks.
Signing Godwin could give the Browns the freedom to hold off on selecting a wide receiver until day 3 of the NFL Draft, but it’s logical to think that they would still want to take one on day 2 regardless of their free agency additions. Andrew Berry and Stefanksi want to add as much firepower to the offense as possible.
Medium - High.
Projected APY: $4,415,000
Who are some of your favorite free-agent wide receivers besides Chris Godwin? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.
