The Patriots need a No. 1 wide receiver. There's little argument about that among Patriot fans. The more pertinent question is, where can they and where should they go looking for one? The options are free agency, where the freight is money, a trade, where picks are the likely currency, or the draft.
The Boston Herald has noted that the Patriots prefer the free agency route to sign rather than trade for a No. 1 wideout. Here's what the Herald had to say about that,
"The Patriots prefer signing Higgins or Godwin over a trade for another No. 1 receiver for the simple fact they would rather sign someone into their $127.7 million worth of cap space instead of surrendering draft capital in a deal and significant cap space. The front office has nonetheless kicked the tires on a potential trade for Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf, per source, while it weighs the ripple effects of making a player they’re not familiar with, like Metcalf, the new highest-paid player on the team."
Lots has been written and speculated about the top free-agent wide receiver, Tee Higgins, and his possibly signing with New England if he gets to the market. The other top name mentioned as a potential free agent (unless he's tagged), is the Tampa Bay Bucs' Chris Godwin. He's the subject here.
Patriots signing free agent Chris Godwin is a big win
The Patriots don't have either a No. 1 or a No. 2 wide receiver. Attempts in past drafts have failed miserably. The worst was 2019's No. 1 draft pick, N'Keal Harry, who was a total flop. In 2022, the Pats tried again in the second round with Tyquan Thornton. He was also a bust.
Most recently, without Bill Belichick to blame, his personnel team drafted Ja'Lynn Polk in the 2024 second round. He delivered a whopping 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns, which is not exactly what a terrible Patriots receiver room needed.
With that in mind, absent drafting the amazing receiver/cornerback, Travis Hunter, the Pats should forget drafting a wideout high in the draft. Another option is to trade, most likely picks for a receiver. That cost will be prohibitively high. The optimum place to get your No. 1 wide receiver is free agency.
The Patriots should stay in on Higgins, but be ready to shift instantly to the Bucs', Chris Godwin, and discussions should be had with both right when the clock strikes 12:00 PM on March 10, and the so-called "tampering period" begins. Why Godwin?
Chris Godwin is a winner and will be the Patriots No. 1 receiver
Chris Godwin has played eight years in the NFL, all with the Bucs, but he's still only 29 years old. He's broken the 1,000-yard mark in four of those seasons. Last year, in an injury-shortened seven-game season, he still notched 50 catches for 576 yards and five TDs. The Pats' leading receiver Pop Douglas had 66 catches for 621 yards and three TDs in 17 games. Godwin would be a tremendous upgrade for quarterback Drake Maye.
Godwin had ankle surgery last season. This requires due diligence. If his health status checks out, he should be at the top of the Patriots' list of free-agent receivers. An argument can be made that he should be at the very top, since Higgins is younger and may be in higher demand and more costly.
fanduel.com has this to say about Godwin possibly signing with the Patriots,
"New England can offer Godwin a bag and the opportunity to be the definitive No. 1 receiving option in Drake Maye's offense. Whether Godwin bites is another thing. He's spent the better half of his career catching passes from Tom Brady and the good version of Baker Mayfield ...
"With that said, Maye showed promised in his rookie season, and the Patriots can outbid every other team in the league if they so choose."
The operative words there are "if they so choose". The suggestion here is "so choose". Drake Maye is a Pro Bowl QB already (so to speak), but his ceiling is All-Pro. Adding a healthy Godwin in free agency (rather than a costly trade) is the optimal way to improve his receiving corps. Adding a No. 2 WR, as well, could send the Patriots skyrocketing to the playoffs (assuming the O-line is fixed).
The Patriots need to go all-in for top players in free agency, not just a bunch of good ones. Chris Godwin is a top-two free-agent wide receiver. He only costs money. The cash-rich, receiver-deficient Patriots should have Godwin on speed-dial at Noon on March 10th with an offer that will land this ace. It would be a surefire, immediate first step back to the top of the AFC East for Mike Vrabel.