The most dangerous team heading into the NFL free agency period is none other than the New England Patriots, a team who has been struggling this decade, but has dominated this overall century. According to overthecap.com, they have over $125 million in cap space to use which $35 million more than the next closest team (LA Chargers at $90 million).
While the Patriots sit at the top of the league in terms of cap space, the Buffalo Bills are the way down at the bottom with $8 million over the cap, according to overthecap.com. However, they have been able to build within the building by extending players like Khalil Shakir, Terrel Bernard, and Greg Rousseau. Brandon Beane is showing his drafting skills by bringing back these players all on four-year deals on relatively reasonable deals.
It will be no surprise to see the Patriots be more busy than the Bills this offseason, and maybe New England even gets themselves some bigger names that are set to hit free agency. As we approach the legal tampering period, set to take place on March 10th, Gary Davenport from Bleacher Report listed final predictions for free agency before the legal tampering period opens up, and one of those predictions involves the Bills' division rival Patriots getting a big name that is set to hit free agency.
B/R has prediction of Patriots signing Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin
"New England has to improve Drake Maye’s weapons. And with the most cap space in the NFL, the Pats have the resources to win a bidding war and add the best wide receiver available."Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report
Drake Maye looked like he can be a franchise quarterback with the Patriots last year, which is a scary sight for Bills fans. Now if the Patriots can surround him with valuable and reliable weapons, the sky could be the limit for Maye and their offense. Wide receiver Chris Godwin, who has been with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2017, is coming off a season-ending ankle injury but still has a lot of value.
Up until last season, Godwin had three consecutive seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards and averaged 133 targets during that span. He’s a fantastic route runner who can pick up crucial yards on third-down situations and he immediately would become the number one option in the New England offense.
According to spotrac.com, Godwin’s market value is set for $22.5 million per season which seems like nothing considering what the Patriots have in cap space. While the Patriots could for sure use Godwin, it wouldn’t be the smartest move for Godwin’s career to leave Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers have a solid setup with Baker Mayfield under center. Mike Evans and Godwin have been a fantastic duo in the league for a long time, the NFC South has ran through Tampa Bay every year since 2021. On the other hand, the Patriots have finished in last place in the AFC East the last two years, and have only finished as high as second place once since Tom Brady left.
The Patriots are in the middle of a rebuild and who knows if Godwin wants any part of that. It would be in his best interest to avoid New England at all costs. Plus, it would also help the Bills to not have to watch Godwin help Drake Maye develop more as a franchise quarterback.
