Referencing that PFF list above...
Even with TB's goal to keep the team together for a few years, I struggle with the idea that signing Godwin and/or Barrett seems to violate everything we've seen about favorable free agency approaches. I do like that they're known players and therefore don't have the the culture/system misfit risk, but even still...
Chris Godwin.
Unless Brady feels that Godwin is truly that special, it makes little sense to pay him market. His PFF grade from about 90+ in 2019 to 75. I love him as a player but don't see this as a good move at all. He'll be likely be one of the few (top shelf) players who likely won't have a depresed market due to the cap, while there are so many other options likely to be bargains or willing to do prove it deals to play with Brady and compete. But also, they have so many good skill players: Evans, Miller, Brate, Howard, and two very promising young players in Miller and Johnson.
Pass. I think that finding a James White type (perhaps White himself if still has gas in the tank) would greatly reduce the net effect of losing Godwin...and it would cost pennies on the dollar.
Antonio Brown.
I think there's a fairly good chance he's as good as Godwin overall in 2021, though it's apparent he is on the downside of his career at his age. If he can be an 800-yard, 6 TD player, as he was on pace for in 2020, seems like a no brainer as a lower cost option than Godwin. The question is how big the market will be with Brown, and the range is pretty wide. This is probably his last big free agency chance, and I imagine that Tampa Bay will have some contract language that won't be as lax as other teams, since they don't need him as much as other teams.
Re-Sign (provided the contract contains offset language and the annual salary isn't crazy.)
Rob Gronkowski.
I think it's obvious he'll be back, but I do wonder if they'll wait to sign him after training camp or even beyond the start of the season. There's just not much point in playing him in games that don't matter because he'll cost a lot but won't be asked to use the skills you're paying for.
Re-Sign (maybe $5M for half a season.)
Shaq Barrett.
This might be an annoying repeat here, but I think the list of options reinforces my argument against him. In addition to sack totals and pressures often being more about the scheme (Tampa's elite interior d-line and historically good run defense), I just think there are plenty of other guys out there who, if you give them a year in Tampa Bay, could be as good or almost as good as Barrett. A lot of these guys have the same measurables and have similar careers outside of Barrett's outlier 2019 season.
Pass (and sign a middle-upper class edge rusher offering better value.)
Ndamukong Suh.
There just aren't many guys who can do what Suh does as evidenced by such a short list, and I think his role was highly underrated this year. Even without Vea, Tampa Bay still had a league leading run defense. I just don't see a humungous market developing for a guy his age, but I think they should be aggresive within reason. If not, other guys on the list might be of interest too.
Re-Sign (or sign another high end defensive tackle).
Lavonte David. @venecol
I think Tampa Bay's achilles heel is the potential loss of either David or White; they are both so fast and unique players who help the pass rush and shut down thoses screens and dumpoffs. This is a position that's always undervalued by the market, too. Shoud be a no brainer for whatever it costs. There's no alternative option out there.
Re-Sign (at all costs).
