When the free agency tampering period opens on March 14, all eyes will be on Bucs WR Chris Godwin. The star pass-catcher is set to hit the market for the first time, and he should be in high demand. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Godwin is making a strong recovery from his torn ACL. Fowler also reports that the Bucs wide receiver is “excited” to hit the free agent market this summer.

“As for where he plays next year, Godwin certainly isn’t ruling out a return to the Bucs. They’ll be in the mix. But he’s also excited about his first foray into the open market. Quarterback play will be important, but not the only factor. Sources said the Bucs see Godwin as a cornerstone and would like to find a way to re-sign him.”

There has been rampant speculation that Godwin will be less inclined to sign in Tampa Bay following Tom Brady’s retirement. As Fowler indicates here, I’m not sure that would be the case. Obviously quarterback play matters, but even if Brady returned there was no guarantee he’d play beyond 2022. Godwin is 25 years old and is likely to sign a 4-5 year contract this offseason. He’s not going to make that commitment for maybe one more year with Brady.

Instead, Godwin will look at the best offers and weigh that against his affinity for Tampa Bay. If the Bucs match or top the best offer, I believe he’ll stay in Tampa Bay. But if the Bucs aren’t willing to pay market price for an extremely valuable player, Godwin could walk. However, I think the Bucs will be aggressive to retain such a critical player. Pro Football Focus projects Godwin’s next contract at 4 years, $70 million.

As Fowler reports, it does seem likely Godwin will hit the market. If he hadn’t torn his ACL in December, I think the Bucs would have locked him up already. But now Tampa Bay might be willing to wait and see if the injury will drive down Godwin’s price in free agency. Remember, last year’s wide receiver market was disappointing for quite a few big names. So don’t expect much action before March 14.