Buccaneers Predicted to Target Former $96 Million WR in Free Agency

"A short-term 'prove-it' deal could make(Diggs) one of the best bargains of the offseason, though, as he had shown no signs of decline before the injury," Knox wrote. "Diggs could be a sneaky target for the Buccaneers, should they lose Chris Godwin in free agency. They are projected to have $31.1 million in cap space, and Diggs might accept an incentive-laden contract that fits with their financial plan."

Before his injury, Diggs was on track for his seventh consecutive season of at least 1,000 receiving yards with 47 receptions for 496 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns through 8 games.

Godwin Could Leave Buccaneers in Free Agency

Diggs would be one of the few players in the NFL who could step into the shoes of Godwin, who suffered his own season-ending injury in a Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens with a dislocated left ankle.

While Godwin should also return healthy in 2025 , he's already suffered a season-ending injury with a torn ACL in 2021 and is in the final year of a 3-year, $60 million contract he signed before the 2022 season .

Like Diggs, Godwin was in the middle of what was shaping up to be one of his best seasons in 2024 before he was injured with 50 receptions and 576 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns through 7 games.

Locker-Room Issues Could Keep Teams Away

While Diggs had, for all accounts, been an ideal citizen during his short time in Houston, one thing any team that signs him will have to consider is how his presence might impact a locker room.

After being drafted in the fifth round (No. 146 overall) out of Maryland by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2015 NFL draft, Diggs established himself as one of the NFL's elite wide receivers and turned that into two mega-contracts — a 5-year, $72 million contract extension with the Vikings in 2018 and a 4-year, $96 million contract extension with the Buffalo Bills in 2022.